News Desk. There is news of relief for patients undergoing treatment for diseases for a long time. After the change in GST rates, tax on many essential medicines has been reduced to 5 percent, while 36 life-saving medicines have been made completely tax free. With this, patients suffering from cancer, asthma, blood pressure, sugar and thyroid can get relief in the cost of medicines.
Earlier, the medicines which were subject to 12 to 18 per cent GST, will now have to pay less tax on medicines of related categories. According to drug traders, this change is important for patients who take medicines regularly, as the monthly expenditure adds up to a huge amount in a year.
How much are the patients saving?
A patient is suffering from diabetes, blood pressure and heart disease. According to him, earlier around Rs 3,000 was spent on medicines every month. Recently he got the same medicines for Rs 2,640. That means Rs 360 were saved in a month. According to this, around Rs 4,320 can be saved in a year.
Relief to asthma patients also
Aruna Mishra, resident of Gomtinagar, has been undergoing treatment for asthma for the last five years. He spends around Rs 1,550 every month on his inhaler. That means the annual expenditure reaches Rs 18,600. They can also save if the price of the product decreases due to changes in GST. Apart from this, she also takes BP medicines regularly, which is expected to provide relief in the total expenditure of medicines.
Patients undergoing long treatment benefit
In diseases like BP, sugar and thyroid, many patients have to take medicines for a long time. In such a situation, even a slight reduction in the prices of medicines can provide relief to their monthly budget. However, the amount of savings will depend on the price of the concerned medicine and the GST rate applicable to it.