GST Council may consider IGST relief for imported rare disease treatments

The GST Council may reportedly consider exempting imported medicines and specialised foods used to treat additional rare diseases from IGST, potentially lowering the final cost of high-priced therapies. The move could also have implications for medicines covered by the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013: while an IGST exemption would not by itself change an NPPA-fixed ceiling price or retail price under the DPCO, it could reduce the MRP payable by patients by removing the tax component.