These 33 Life-Saving Drugs, Including Daratumumab, Alectinib, Obinutuzumab, Now GST-Free, See List
New Delhi: In a significant move aimed at reducing the treatment burden for patients battling cancer and rare genetic disorders, the GST Council has removed the 12% Goods and Services Tax (GST) on 33 expensive and life-saving medicines and diagnostic kits- making them completely tax-free, while other essential medicines, including those under Ayurveda, Unani, and Homoeopathy, will now attract a lower GST of 5% instead of 12%.
The rate on spectacles and corrective goggles has been slashed from 28% to 5%, while medical oxygen, thermometers, and surgical instruments will now be taxed at 5% instead of the earlier 12–18%. In addition, the GST on medical, dental, and veterinary devices has been cut from 18% to 5%, significantly reducing costs across a wide spectrum of healthcare services and products.
The exemption applies to a wide range of imported and high-cost therapies, including critical drugs for cancer, autoimmune conditions, and rare diseases. Experts estimate that patients dependent on these medicines could now save between Rs 15,000 and Rs 50,000 a month, with some families benefitting by lakhs annually.
Full List of 33 GST-Free Medicines
Agalsidase Beta
Imiglucerase
Eptacog alfa activated recombinant coagulation factor VIIa
Onasemnogene abeparvovec
Asciminib
Mepolizumab
Pegylated Liposomal Irinotecan
Daratumumab
Daratumumab subcutaneous
Teclistamab
Amivantamab
Alectinib
Risdiplam
Obinutuzumab
Polatuzumab vedotin
Entrectinib
Atezolizumab
Spesolimab
Velaglucerase Alpha
Agalsidase Alfa
Rurioctocog Alpha Pegol
Idursulphatase
Alglucosidase Alfa
Laronidase
Olipudase Alfa
Tepotinib
Avelumab
Emicizumab
Belumosudil
Miglustat
Velmanase Alfa
Alirocumab
Evolocumab, Cystamine Bitartrate, CI-Inhibitor injection and Inclisiran
These medicines include critical treatments for multiple myeloma, lung cancer, lymphoma, blood cancers, Gaucher disease, Pompe disease, hemophilia, and other rare conditions.
Also Read: AiMed Flags Risks in GST Overhaul For Medical Devices, Seeks Balanced 5-12% Tax Structure
For instance, Daratumumab, previously costing Rs 2.24 lakh per dose with GST, will now cost around Rs 2 lakh — saving patients nearly Rs 24,000 per treatment cycle. Similarly, Alectinib for lung cancer will now be about Rs 18,000 cheaper per month, and Osimertinib (also used in lung cancer) will be cheaper by about Rs 16,200, reports NDTV.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman described the exemption as a public welfare measure, ensuring that “no patient is denied treatment due to the high cost of medicines.”
Industry Welcomes Move
Industry associations and healthcare leaders hailed the decision. Dr GSK Velu, CMD, Trivitron Healthcare & Neuberg Diagnostics, said, “These GST reforms are path-breaking and should benefit every citizen of India. We welcome the decision to reduce GST from 12% to 5% for medical devices and nil GST on lifesaving drugs.”
Meanwhile, Ameera Shah, President, NATHEALTH expressed, “This reform will enhance access to preventive and curative care by lowering costs of diagnostic kits, reagents, and essential healthcare products.”
“Exempting life-saving and cancer medicines from GST will bring direct relief to patients and make essential therapies more affordable," commented Sudarshan Jain, Secretary General, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance.
Further, speaking to Medical Dialogues, Rajiv Nath, Forum Coordinator, AiMeD, said, “If GST refunds under the inverted duty structure are swiftly executed, this will lower costs, ease working capital pressures, and improve India’s competitiveness in the MedTech sector.”
