The government has waived custom duty on Amphotericin B, an anti-fungal drug imported along with other materials for manufacturing Covid test kits, Hindustan Times reported Wednesday. The latest move is seen a part of its strategy to prepare the domestic industry for a potential third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to the report, raw materials used to manufacture Amphotericin B have been exempted from the customs duty till August 31, 2201. Other raw materials used in manufacturing Covid testing kits are exempt from the custom duty till September 30.
In a move to help people fight the Covid-19 pandemic and reduce financial burden, the GST council removed GST on two medicines, including Amphotericin B on June 12. This also includes slashing tax rates on 15 other items such as drugs, medical grade oxygen and testing kits to 5% for the next three and a half months, the report added.
It is expected that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the department of pharmacueticals would recommend a 5% flat GST rate on all Covid related drugs. Presently, drugs like Remdesivir and Heparin has seen a slash in GST rate from 12% to 5%. Whereas Amphotericin B and Tocilizumab GST rates have been reduced from 5% to zero.