The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has initiated a 100-day nationwide awareness campaign highlighting the recent reduction in Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates on medical devices, medicines, and pharmaceuticals.
According to a communiqué issued by Dr. Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, Drugs Controller General of India, the Government’s decision to rationalize GST rate structures has led to lower tax rates on these products, effective from September 22, 2025. The CDSCO has been directed to ensure that the public benefits of this move are widely communicated over the next 100 days.
State and Union Territory licensing authorities have been instructed to display banners and posters in their offices and encourage manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers to spread the message through similar displays at their establishments. They have also been asked to compile photographic evidence of the awareness activities and submit them to the CDSCO headquarters.
All Zonal and Sub-Zonal Offices of CDSCO have been given similar responsibilities, including:
- Displaying awareness materials in their offices.
- Coordinating with state authorities to conduct similar outreach activities.
- Encouraging trade associations and companies to disseminate information through banners, posters, and digital platforms.
- Appointing a state-level nodal officer to oversee the campaign’s implementation.
- Sharing reports and visual documentation of activities with CDSCO-HQ.
- Motivating large medical and pharmaceutical companies to release advertisements in print and electronic media, particularly in regional languages.
- Participating in public discussions and panel sessions to promote understanding of the GST rate reduction and its benefits.
The 100-day initiative aims to ensure that the industry and the public are fully aware of the government’s tax rationalization measures and the resulting cost benefits across the healthcare and MedTech sectors.