44th GST Council Meet: Covid Testing Kits, Hand Sanitizer GST Rates To Be Cut

The 44th GST Council, which met under the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman through video conferencing has reduced the GST rates on the specified items being used in Covid-19 relief and management till 30th September, 2021.

The meeting was also attended by Union Minister of State for Finance & Corporate Affairs Shri Anurag Thakur besides Finance Ministers of States & UTs and senior officers of the Ministry of Finance & States/Union Territories. Here are the GST rates that are reduced on select items:

Item	Present GST Rate	Suggested GST Rates
Ventilators	12%	5%
Ventilator masks/ canula/ helmet	12%	5%
BiPAP Machine	12%	5%
Covid Testing Kits	12%	5%
Hand Sanitizer	18%	5%
Medical Grade Oxygen	12%	5%
Pulse Oximeters, incl personal imports thereof	12%	5%

Interestingly, the GST rates on vaccine have not been cut.