The government may waive Goods and Services Tax (GST) on Covid-19 vaccines to reduce the cost—up to ₹1,200 a dose in private hospitals. The move is an attempt to ease the burden on people and encourage vaccination, people familiar with the matter reportedly said. Earlier the government also waived import duty on most essential pharmaceutical raw materials.
Meanwhile, Serum Institute of India has reduced the price of Covishield vaccine from Rs 400 to Rs 300 per dose for states. This was announced by SII CEO Adar Poonawalla on Wednesday. The development comes at a time when there has been a raging debate over the pricing of vaccines in the country. The government had earlier asked the SII and Bharat Biotech, makers of the two vaccines currently in use in India, to lower their prices.