Roll back service tax on medical facilities- Trivedi

The Union Health Ministry has urged Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee to roll back five per cent service tax imposed on hospitals and diagnostic centres in this year’s budget, arguing that it would make health care more expensive for the poor.

Minister of State for Health Dinesh Trivedi said his ministry had asked Mukherjee for rolling back the tax.

“We have requested for a roll back and hope that the Finance Ministry would look into it,” Trivedi said.

Under fire for the proposal to tax ‘high-end’ medical services, Mukherjee on Friday told the Lok Sabha that he was examining various suggestions and would respond later.

“Since the presentation of the Budget 2011-12, I have received several suggestions and representations, including valuable feedback from Members (MPs) on taxation proposals. These are under examination,” he said.

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