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SKCDA urges govt to exempt 12% GST on Covid-19 drug remdesivir injection
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Nandita Vijay, Bengaluru
April 21 , 2021
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Even as the Covid-19 cases are steadily increasing in the country, the Suvarna Karnataka Chemists Distributors Association (SKCDA) has urged the Union government to issue an Emergent Notification to exempt the 12% GST on remdesivir injection to make this life-saving drug affordable to the general public.
The move follows after the government’s intervention to enhance the availability and affordability of lifesaving remdesivir injection which led many pharma companies in the country engaged in its production to reduce the price.
In a communication to Union finance minister Nirmala Seetharaman, the SKCDA has appealed to give directions to Drugs Control General of India to issue circulars to remdesivir injection manufacturers/marketers to stamp revised lesser MRP on the pack/unit with a note of GST exemption.
In the letter, SKCDA president V Harikrishnan also called upon the finance minister to give directions to the chairman, National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority to bring remdesivir injection under National List of Essential Medicines and fix ceiling price under the provision of Drugs (Prices) Control Order, 2013.
We are insisting the government to issue emergent notification exempting 12% of GST on remdesivir injection so that it is affordable to the general public who have been diagnosed of the deadly virus and affected in the second wave of Covid-19. Here remdesivir injection is seen to be extensively used by the medical fraternity across the country to treat the Covid-19 positive cases, said Harikrishnan.
Going by the efforts of the government so far in fighting this pandemic, we are confident that concerted efforts will be made to extend a 12% GST exemption on remdesivir Injection in saving lakhs of lives of our people who are affected by Covid-19.
In fact, remdesivir is the first drug approved by the US FDA to treat the SARS-CoV-2 virus and was indicated for treatment of Covid-19 disease in hospitalized patients.
In India now remdesivir Injection is a much sought after treatment protocol to treat the hospitalized adults and children if 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 88 pounds or 40 kilograms, said Harikrishnan.
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