FMRAI members protest at Azad Maidan, demand scrapping of GST on medicines

Mumbai: Thousands of members of the Federation of Medical Representatives Association of India (FMRAI) on Monday protested at Azad Maidan against the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on medicines, which range from 5 to 28 per cent.

Contending that GST has driven up the cost of medicines, the association demanded there should be no GST on medicines. Over 10,000 sales and medical representatives from across the country were present for the rally.

FMRAI’s secretary Shrikant Phopse said, “Before GST came into being, we were paying 6 per cent of Value Added Tax (VAT). But now, under GST, we pay taxes up to 28 per cent, whose burden is passed on to the common man as the GST is inclusive in the MRP.”

Mr Phopse added, “The state government should come forward and resolve the issues as soon as possible or else we will protest all over the India.”

The FMRAI asserted the state government has mentioned that the medicines would be made available at affordable prices for the common man. But in reality, generic medicines and branded generic are not affordable after implementation of GST, it said.

The government has divided GST on medicines into four parts, with essential drugs and drugs for fatal diseases like cancer and tuberculosis attracting 5 per cent GST, and the rest attracting GST of 12, 18 and 28 per cent. Asserting that GST has driven up the price of medicines, the FMRAI said the people are gradually becoming dependent on costly imported medicines .