Govt rolls back five per cent healthcare tax

New Delhi: The Government on Tuesday rolled back the five per cent tax healthcare, which many called the misery tax as it made treatment more expensive.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee made the announcement in his reply to the debate in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. The proposal which was put forth during the Budget invoked Opposition from the medical fraternity.

Reacting on the move, Cardiac Surgeon Dr Devi P Shetty said it is a victory for the Finance Minister. "He assured us that they will look at the requirements of the common man. I thank the Finance Ministry for taking this decision," he said.

The proposal which was made during the Budget invoked opposition from the medical fraternity.

"We had told the minister that the health tax was a misery tax for the common man and we had explained him the consequences of the tax ," Dr Shetty added.

The Finance Minister also moved the Finance Bill to facilitate the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). The GST is a simplified tax regime that will do away with most of the indirect taxes like excise, sales and service.

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