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Delhi CM assures RDCA to advocate for a uniform 5% GST on all drugs at the next GST Council Meeting
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Peethaambaran Kunnathoor, Chennai
August 30 , 2025
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Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has promised to advocate for a uniform 5% GST on all medicines at the next GST Council Meeting.
This assurance came during a meeting with the Retail Distribution Chemists Alliance (RDCA), a prominent body representing chemists and druggists in the national capital, on August 28, at the Delhi Secretariat. The RDCA highlighted the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists' (AIOCD) request to rationalize the GST structure, arguing that medicines are essential and not luxury goods.
The RDCA, led by its president Sandeep Nangia, apprised the Chief Minister of the AIOCD's stance. The national organization has urged that all medicines, including vitamins, probiotics, nutritional supplements, and baby food, be placed under the 5% GST slab. It has also called for life-saving drugs for critical ailments like cancer, kidney, and heart diseases to be entirely exempted from GST (0%). The appeal is particularly timely given the government's discussions to abolish the 12% GST slab. The RDCA and AIOCD are concerned that with the abolition of the 12% slab, certain medicines might be taxed at a higher rate, increasing the financial burden on patients.
Beyond the GST issue, the RDCA team also raised other pressing concerns. They expressed strong objections to two recent directives from the state health ministry. The first is the mandatory enrollment of pharmacies in the Health Facility Registry (HFR) of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). The second is a recent order mandating the installation of CCTV cameras in all pharmacies. The RDCA has described both directives as legally unsupported, discriminatory, and a significant burden on small businesses. They have also pointed out that online pharmacies are often not held to the same standards.
RDCA also brought up the issues plaguing the state pharmacy council. According to the association, the transparent functioning of the council needs to be restored. The renewal of registrations for several pharmacists has been halted due to a range of issues, negatively impacting their ability to operate legally. The chemists have urged the Chief Minister to intervene and resolve the administrative problems within the council.
A key demand from the RDCA is the equal enforcement of the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act on both offline and online pharmacies. The association claims that many online pharmacies are violating these provisions, creating an unfair and unsafe market.
The RDCA's president, Sandeep Nangia, emphasized the need for consistent regulations to ensure public safety and fair competition. The Chief Minister has reportedly given a positive response to the RDCA leaders, promising to take action on the specific issues raised. This signals a potential shift in policy that could alleviate some of the major burdens on Delhi's chemist community.
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