Covid relief items: Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma-led GOM to examine GST cut

The GOM will submit its report back to the GST Council by June 8 for the Council’s consideration.

An eight member group of ministers (GOM) led by Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma will look at the necessity for discount of or exemption from Covid vaccines and different associated healthcare gadgets from items and repair tax (GST).

“In pursuant of the choice of the GST Council at its forty third assembly on Could 28, 2021, a gaggle of ministers has been constituted to look at the problem of GST concessions/ exemption to Covid aid materials. The GOM shall look at the necessity for GST concession and make suggestions on Covid vaccines, medication and medicines for Covid remedy and testing kits for Covid detection,” in keeping with the GOM’s phrases of reference.

“(To look at) medical grade oxygen, pulse oxymeters, hand sanitisers, oxygen remedy gear similar to concentrators, mills and ventilators, PPE kits, N95 masks, surgical masks, temperature checking gear and some other gadgets required for Covid aid,” it stated.

The GOM will submit its report back to the GST Council by June 8 for the Council’s consideration.

In addition to convenor Sangma, the opposite members of the GOM are Gujarat deputy CM Nitinbhai Patel, Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar, Goa transport minister Mauvin Godinho, Kerala finance minister KN Balagopal, Odisha finance minister Niranjan Pujari, Telangana finance minister T Harish Rao and UP finance minister Suresh Kumar Khanna.

At present Covid vaccines entice 5% GST for home provide and business import, the fitment committee is learnt to requested for retaining the speed. As for oxygen concentrators, medical grade oxygen, pulse oximeters and Covid testing kits, 12% GST exist on home provides and business imports. The committee favoured chopping the speed to five% until July 31. No change in charges was really helpful by fitment committee on ventilators (12%), N95 masks/surgical masks (5%), RT-PCR macines (18%).