Congress MP Advocates Removal of GST on Mental Health Services Amid Budget Concerns

Congress MP Gowaal Kagada Padavi has requested the Centre to reconsider the 18 per cent GST on mental health services while highlighting an unspent amount of over Rs 8,600 crore in the health sector last financial year. He emphasizes the need for better fund allocation and utilization to address health issues effectively.

Congress MP Gowaal Kagada Padavi on Friday urged the Centre to reconsider the 18 per cent GST on mental health services, while flagging an unspent amount of over Rs 8,600 crores in the health sector during the last financial year.

Participating in a debate on the Health Ministry's budget in the Lok Sabha, the MP from Nandurbar, Maharashtra, highlighted the unspent funds as a sign of inefficiency in fund allocation and utilization.

'Mental health issues are critical and the 18 per cent GST needs reconsideration,' Padavi stated. He informed that out of the Rs 89,155 crore health budget for 2023-24, around Rs 80,517 crore was spent, leaving Rs 8,600 crore unutilized. He urged immediate resolution of this issue and criticized the 3 per cent budget cut in Health and Family Welfare this year, despite prior claims during the COVID-19 pandemic.

(With inputs from agencies.)