Dear Editor,
As per notification by J and K Government dated 31st March 2015 “service provided by Nurshing Homes” Tax will be charged from 1st April 2015 at 12 per cent on the bill i.e. operation charges, theatre charges, anesthetist, Tech. assistants, drugs and gases, room rent, food, ambulance, visiting consultants, residential consultants, nursing charges, x-ray, ultrasound investigations and electricity etc which are the services provided by nursing homes. On an average every patients shall have to pay in the range of Rs 5 thousand or more extra, an additional burden on the patient.
Previous government had exempted tax on nursing homes from 1st April 2012 onwards.
However as per Supreme Court order of Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission dated 5th May 2000 No. 1 of 1999, the consultation services by doctors are provided for furtherance of their profession and not sale purchase or business. How far this new tax is justified, it is upto government to satisfy patients and public who will certainly get the pinch of tax payment.
Dr. K. C Sharma
Udhampur.