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GST Cuts Slash Prices of Critical Medicines, Improving Access for Patients

Summary

  • GST cuts on drugs for treating cancer, rare diseases, and blood disorders
  • Prices of key medicines drop by up to ₹40,000 per pack
  • Reduced costs expected to help more patients access critical treatments
GST Cuts Slash Prices of Critical Medicines, Improving Access for Patients

As of September 9th, 2025, the Indian government has announced a series of GST rate cuts on a wide range of critical medicines, a move that is expected to significantly improve patient access to lifesaving treatments.

The reduced GST rates will apply to drugs used for the treatment of conditions such as multiple myeloma, lung cancer, blood cancer, lymphoma, Gaucher disease, Pompe disease, and haemophilia. According to market research firm PharmaTrac, the price of a pack of the leukemia drug asciminib 60 (40 mg tablets) has dropped by ₹25,000, while the prescription medicine obinutuzumab has seen a reduction of over ₹40,000.

Additionally, the GST on drugs for treating spinal muscular atrophy has been completely scrapped. This includes Roche's Everysdi (risdiplam), which is now available at a base price of ₹64.29 lakh, down from the previous ₹72 lakh per annum including 12% GST. Novartis' onasemnogene abeparvovec (ZolegenSMA or Genetherapy), another treatment for spinal muscular atrophy, is also expected to see a significant price drop once its Indian pricing is finalized in the coming months.

Experts believe that the GST cuts will make healthcare more affordable and accessible, particularly for patients from weaker sections of society. With at least 41 critical drugs becoming cheaper, the reduced prices, combined with patient support programs, are expected to help onboard more patients and provide much-needed relief.

Disclaimer: This story has been auto-aggregated and auto-summarised by a computer program. This story has not been edited or created by the Feedzop team.

FAQ

The prices of key medicines, such as the leukemia drug asciminib 60 and the prescription medicine obinutuzumab, have dropped by up to ₹25,000 and ₹40,000 per pack, respectively, due to the GST rate cuts.
The GST cuts will apply to drugs used to treat conditions like multiple myeloma, Gaucher disease, Pompe disease, and haemophilia, among others, making these critical treatments more affordable for patients.
The GST on drugs for treating spinal muscular atrophy, such as Roche's Everysdi (risdiplam) and Novartis' onasemnogene abeparvovec, has been completely scrapped, leading to significant price reductions and improved access to these lifesaving therapies.

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