GST Exemption on Ambulance Services: Key Highlights of Circular No. 51/25/2018-GST
<h4><strong>Introduction</strong></h4><p>The Ministry of Finance, through <strong>Circular No. 51/25/2018-GST</strong>, clarifies the <strong>GST exemption on ambulance services</strong> provided under the <strong>National Health Mission (NHM)</strong>. The circular confirms that such services, whether offered by <strong>government agencies or private service providers (PSPs)</strong>, continue to be <strong>exempt from GST</strong>, similar to the previous service tax framework.</p><hr><h3><strong>Key Highlights</strong></h3><h4><strong>1. GST Exemption on Ambulance Services</strong></h4><ul><li>Under <strong>Notification No. 12/2017-CT (R)</strong>, ambulance services provided by <strong>government entities or private service providers (PSPs)</strong> are <strong>exempt from GST</strong>.</li><li>This aligns with the <strong>earlier exemption under Service Tax (Notification No. 25/2012-ST)</strong>.</li></ul><h4><strong>2. Legal Basis for Exemption</strong></h4><ul><li>As per <strong>Sl. No. 74 of Notification No. 12/2017-CT (R)</strong>:<ul><li>Services related to <strong>healthcare by clinical establishments, medical practitioners, or para-medics</strong> are <strong>exempt</strong>.</li><li><strong>Ambulance services for patient transportation</strong> are also <strong>exempt</strong>.</li></ul></li></ul><h4><strong>3. Services Provided to Government Under NHM</strong></h4><ul><li>Under <strong>Sl. No. 3 & 3A of Notification No. 12/2017-CT (R)</strong>:<ul><li><strong>Pure services</strong> provided to <strong>Central/State Governments, local authorities, or government entities</strong> are <strong>exempt</strong>.</li><li>If a <strong>composite supply</strong> (goods + services) is involved, exemption applies only if the <strong>goods value does not exceed 25% of total supply</strong>.</li></ul></li></ul><h4><strong>4. Constitutional Backing for Exemption</strong></h4><ul><li><strong>Health and sanitation</strong> functions are <strong>entrusted to Panchayats (Article 243G)</strong>.</li><li><strong>Public health</strong> functions are <strong>entrusted to Municipalities (Article 243W)</strong>.</li><li>Since ambulance services relate to these functions, they qualify for <strong>GST exemption</strong>.</li></ul><h4><strong>5. Scope of GST Exemption</strong></h4><ul><li><strong>Ambulance services provided directly to patients</strong> → <strong>Exempt</strong></li><li><strong>Ambulance services provided by PSPs to State Governments under NHM</strong> → <strong>Exempt</strong><ul><li>If purely service-based (Sl. No. 3).</li><li>If a composite supply with goods <25% of total value (Sl. No. 3A).</li></ul></li></ul><h4><strong>6. NHM and Public Health</strong></h4><ul><li>The NHM ensures <strong>universal access to free healthcare services</strong>, including <strong>emergency patient transport (Dial 102/108 services)</strong>.</li><li>Free ambulance services are considered a <strong>"public health" function</strong> and are therefore exempt under <strong>GST law</strong>.<a href="https://cms.plasament.com/storage/nisha/circular-no-51.pdf">circular_no_51</a><br><br> </li></ul>