Due to 12% GST levied on medical equipments across the board which are used in physiotherapy treatment, might have a cascading effect and there are apprehensions that Physiotherapists might have to increase their treatment costs, said Dr.Rajesh Khanna, Secretary of Coimbatore Physiotherapists Association.
Dr.Rajesh said that the GST roll out has led to steep hike in taxation for medical equipments across the board. While the electric medical equipments used in Physiotherapy have attracted levy of 12% from the earlier 5% certain medical equipments have attracted from 18% to 28% of GST.
"The GST levy on physiotherapy exercise equipments have also gone up to 28% and even the wheel-chairs used by disabled has attracted an 18% GST. Orthopedic treatments, such as artificial knees, and connecting plates have also been hiked and put at 12% from the earlier 5%.
While the GST levy for medical services have been exempted from GST, the medical tools and equipments used for various treatment have been hiked he said. The GST levy for medical equipments used in dialysis and pace maker have attracted 12% GST against the earlier 5% tax", Dr. Rajesh said.