By Admin 
How GST Reduction Can Lower Cancer Treatment Costs: What steps can be taken to prevent cancer is discussed. However, cancer treatment in India has been a major health challenge for a long time. Expensive medications, limited insurance coverage, and difficult access to treatment put millions of patients and their families under financial stress. In such a situation, the recent changes made in the GST system by the Central Government are being considered as an important step in terms of cancer treatment and public health.
Recommendation to make medicines tax free
In the 56th meeting of the GST Council, it was recommended to make 33 life-saving medicines for cancer and rare diseases completely tax free. Earlier, GST on these medicines was 5 percent to 12 percent. But now with the removal of the tax, the total cost of treatment is expected to reduce, especially for those patients who depend on expensive medicines for a long time.
What do experts say?
Dr. Abhishek Shankar, MD, in the Radiology Department of AIIMS Delhi, believes that many patented cancer medicines are so expensive that patients are forced to leave the treatment midway. With the removal of GST, the price of medicines will reduce, which can improve the continuity of treatment and survival rate. Apart from this, it has also been recommended to keep personal health and life insurance policies out of GST, which can make insurance cheaper for the common people.
Hope from increasing tax on tobacco products
Another important decision from the health point of view is to increase the tax on tobacco products. Tobacco is considered the biggest cause of cancer. Due to increase in tax, its consumption is likely to reduce, which may reduce the cases of cancer, heart disease and respiratory diseases in future. Research shows that higher taxes on tobacco are more effective in reducing consumption, especially among the poor and middle class.
Expected cost of initial diagnosis and treatment
The benefit of GST reduction is not limited to medicines only. Reducing taxes on diagnostic tests, surgical equipment and medical supplies can also reduce the cost of initial diagnosis and treatment. Health experts believe that when testing is cheap, people get tested on time, due to which the disease is caught early. However, experts also warn that the real impact of these policies will be visible only when the tax relief completely reaches the patients. If companies do not reduce prices, profits may remain limited. The government has requested the industry to pass on the full benefits of tax cuts to the customers.
Disclaimer: This information is based on research studies and expert opinion. Do not consider this as a substitute for medical advice. Before adopting any new activity or exercise, please consult your doctor or relevant specialist.
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