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

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.