Treatment becomes more expensive, with over 200 medical devices becoming costly due to heavy sales tax imposition.
The sales tax was imposed on medical devices such as thermometers, glucose strips, BP monitors, surgical gloves and wheelchairs, among others. Now they have to pay taxes as well as medical supplies; more than 200 medical devices became more expensive. For example, regular glucose strips will now cost Rs. 1000 instead of Rs. 700 per package.
The price of wheelchairs which used to be Rs. 13,000, will now go up to Rs. 23,000. The prices of other devices used in households, including BP operators, will also double.
Doctors say that the common man will be directly affected by sales tax. Dr. Abdullah Matqi, secretary general of the Pakistan Medical Devices Association, says 95% of medical devices and medical equipment are imported from abroad. Because of the expensive devices, the treatment becomes more expensive
