India on Saturday cut taxes on medical devices such as oxygen concentrators and drugs utilized to treat COVID-19 infections, after extensive criticism over healthcare costs during a destructive 2nd wave of the infection in April and May.The federal government cut taxes on medical grade oxygen, ventilators, the remdesivir antiviral drug, diagnostic packages, pulse oximeters and hand sanitizers to 5% from 12-18% with immediate effect.The new levies will be in location up until the end of September, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, adding it would consist of taxes on electric heaters in crematoriums and ambulances.”The rate cut has actually not be done with any cost ramification (on government financial resources) in mind, it has actually been done so that individuals get some ease … the decision has been taken to offer ultimate ease to patients,” Revenue Secretary Tarun Bajaj informed a news conference.The federal government, nevertheless, would continue to tax vaccines at 5%, he added.The worlds second-most populous nation, where coronavirus cases hit a peak of 400,000 a day in May, reported 84,332 new infections on Saturday, the most affordable in more than two months, information from the health ministry showed.

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