In a meeting of the GST council, Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Manish Sisodia recommended changes for making Covid-19 medical equipment like vaccine, masks, sanitisers, thermometer and oximeter tax-free.
Sisodia said, “It is necessary for us to make Covid-19 medical equipment like vaccines, masks, sanitisers, thermometer, oximeter and other equipment. Expenses related to masks, sanitisers, thermometers have now been added into the monthly budget of people.
Speaking on the possibility of a 3rd wave, Sisodia said, “We can compare our Covid waves to that of the United Kingdom.
As Covid cases reported peak in the UK, we can say that India will also see another peak. Keeping in mind the possibility, Central and State Governments across the nation have already starting ramping up medical facilities.”
“Private sectors have also been asked to invest in public healthcare. If a State Government asks a private company to invest 10 lakh in a hospital to increase its ICU hospital, does this mean that the hospital will get the full amount or does it mean that the hospital will receive a deducted amount after tax?,” he said.
Sisodia said, “These suggestions have been put across keeping in mind the rising expenditure related to Covid-19 material for our junta, who now have to create a margin from their daily expenditure to spend on these medical apparatus. People of the nation want their Governments to not make money out of this expenditure to actually aid them and support them by making the equipment tax-free.”
“I appeal to the Centre to have an open heart to make this equipment tax-free. It is the need of the hour and will help many people reduce their cost in monthly budgets,” he said.