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FMRAI seeks abolition of GST for medicines
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Gireesh Babu, New Delhi
June 14 , 2025
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The Federation of Medical and Sales Representatives Association of India (FMRAI), the apex organisation of medical and sales representatives in the pharmaceutical sector in the country, has requested the Union ministry of finance to withdraw all slabs of Goods and Services Tax (GST) from medicines and medical devices.
In a massive drive to raise the point to the Ministry, the Federation is submitting a representation in this regard to various GST offices across the country through its State level and district level units.
In a memorandum submitted to finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the Federation said that the different slabs of GST on essential medicines have significantly increased the huge burden on patients and their families.
"This financial strain undermines the fundamental right to health and pose challenges in achieving equitable healthcare across the nation," it added. People are reeling under severe distress due to unabated price rise of medicines coupled with high GST ranging up to 18 per cent.
The GST rate for pharmaceutical products currently ranges from zero percent to five, 12 and 18 per cent, with the government reducing the tax for life-saving drugs and vaccines at various times in the past.
"We believe that healthcare should remain accessible and affordable to all, especially for the economically weaker sections of our society," said FMRAI in its memorandum to the minister.
The Federation requested immediate action from the Ministry by revisiting the policies related to GST on medicines and medical devices.
"We strongly advocate zero GST on medicines and medical devices, as it will alleviate some sufferings of countless individuals and families and promote better healthcare outcomes for the citizens of the country," it added in the memorandum.
P Krishnanand, president of FMRAI, said that the memorandum is being submitted separately by its 20 State units and 400 district level sub-units in different GST offices across the country.
The 27th Conference at Mumbai in February 2025 has identified the miseries of the common people of the country in the healthcare system caused by the current regime in India. People of the country are pushed to poverty due to catastrophic OOPE (Out of the Pocket Expenses) for treatment.
Less than 2% of the Budget is allocated for healthcare in this fiscal too where WHO recommendation is 6 percent. Only 14 per cent rural and 19 per cent urban populace are covered under any health insurance scheme. The government is charging four slabs of GST on medicines which has aggravated the miseries of the people, said the Federation in its latest monthly newsletter.
The Federation has been demanding six points in this regard to the central government, including reducing prices of all medicines and bring all medicines under price control regime, withdrawal of all slabs of GST from medicines and medical devices, withdrawal of import duties on all medicines, ensuring standardised quality of all medicines and ensuring stringent punishment against spurious drug manufacturers, and increasing allocation of health budget to 5 percent of country’s GDP. The Federation also demanded to stop online sales of medicines.
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