Srinagar, Oct 19: Over a month after the GST cuts on medicines, J&K patients still pay old prices.
Life-saving drugs are now tax-free, and general medicines are cheaper, but delayed price revisions mean chronic patients see no savings, mirroring a nationwide trend.
The GST 2.0 reforms had reduced taxes on medicines from 12 percent to 5 percent.
In addition, 36 life-saving drugs were exempted entirely from taxes.
Yet, many consumers in J&K still continue to buy medicines at the old prices.
With out-of-pocket healthcare costs consuming a significant household budget, the delay in passing on savings proves costly for patients.
Announced at the 56th GST Council meeting on September 3 and effective September 22, the tax slumps could make medicines more affordable.
Life-saving drugs, including insulin, TB and AIDS medicines, and cancer therapies, now have 0 percent GST, from the existing 5 to 12 percent.
This could cut costs by up to Rs 120 on a Rs 1000 drug.
General medicines such as antibiotics, pain formulations, drugs for diabetes, and hypertension, have 5 percent GST now, from the existing 12 percent.
The Rs 100 medicine strip would now cost Rs 93 only, after a 7 percent rebate.
However, people in Kashmir are hardly able to reap the benefits of the medicines being sold in the market, with pre-reform printed rates.
Bashir Ahmed, who buys hypertension medicines for himself every week, said the medicine has cost him the same for months.
“Don’t know about GST, but the Rs 115 strip costs the same as before. The revised GST rates have not made it cheaper,” he said.
On the same note, Shafiya Jan, who has been on anti-diabetes drugs for the past seven years, said, since she has been on medicines, a single strip has become costlier.
“I started buying it at Rs 27, now it’s Rs 52,” she said.
The J&K Drug and Food Control Organisation (DFCO) and National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) have mandated retailers to revise Maximum Retail Prices (MRPs).
They have suggested using stickers on existing stock and publishing updated lists.
The revised prices could help ease the burden on patients with chronic ailments.
Nationally, a survey earlier this month found only 22 percent of Indian consumers saw full GST relief on medicines.
J&K appears to be mirroring this trend.
Recently, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo launched a seven-step protocol to enforce compliance, including 150 awareness camps.
Assistant Commissioner Drug Control Jammu, Arvind Sharma, said the department had not received any complaint regarding the issue.
“I can say with confidence that in Jammu, pharmacists are passing on the GST benefit to consumers. In fact, in Jammu, consumers are also provided additional discounts on medicines,” he said.
Sharma said that the department was carrying out inspections and checking the billing of medical shops.
“If there is a violation, people must report to us,” he said, assuring every report would trigger action.
Assistant Controller, Drugs, Srinagar, Reema Gazala did not respond to calls from Greater Kashmir.