Latest news with #AmeeraShah
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
17 hours ago
- Health
- Business Standard
Nathealth calls for GST input slab for healthcare to be capped at 5%
Healthcare industry body Nathealth has sought standardised Goods and Services Tax (GST) input slabs for the sector to be capped at 5 per cent, along with permission for providers to claim input credits wherever GST output payments are applicable. This comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week announced sweeping GST reforms by Diwali this year, aimed at lowering tax rates, simplifying compliance, and modernising the GST system to make it more growth-friendly. Nathealth stated that while GST rationalisation has delivered efficiency and cost advantages across many industries, healthcare has remained largely outside its ambit. Calling the capping of input GST slabs at 5 per cent critical, the industry body said that the current structure has significantly increased the cost burden on providers. It further noted that hospitals and diagnostic providers are unable to claim input tax credit on essential inputs ranging from medical equipment and consumables to contractual labour, maintenance, and critical services. 'Blocked credits today are higher than in the pre-GST regime, creating a hidden layer of costs. In addition, essential services such as contractual manpower attract 18 per cent GST, which disincentivises flexible hiring in a sector that is heavily people-dependent,' the body said. Nathealth also highlighted that a large share of embedded taxes is linked to life-saving drugs and consumables, which temporary waivers have not adequately addressed. According to a study jointly conducted by Nathealth and EY across India, these embedded taxes amounted to an estimated 5.5 to 6 per cent of providers' total revenues, a hidden cost that can ultimately increase the cost of care for patients. The study further showed that embedded taxes have actually increased in the GST era. 'For hospitals, they rose from 4.3 per cent in the pre-GST period (2016–17) to 5.7 per cent in the GST period (2018–19 to 2020–21), while for diagnostic laboratories and testing centres, the burden climbed from 3.8 per cent to 5.8 per cent,' Nathealth said. Commenting on the issue, Ameera Shah, President of Nathealth and Promoter and Executive Chairperson of Metropolis Healthcare, said that a pragmatic GST structure would ease the burden on providers while directly benefiting millions of Indians who rely on quality care. 'It will also reinforce investor confidence, giving the sector the stability to expand capacity and scale innovation, thereby making healthcare more affordable and accessible for all,' she added.
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
NATHEALTH backs GST rate revamp; Seeks input credit for healthcare industry
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's push to reform the indirect taxation system by rationalising Goods and Services Tax (GST) slabs has drawn strong support from the country's healthcare stakeholders. While addressing the nation on the 79th Independence Day, the Prime Minister announced that next-generation GST reforms would be unveiled on Diwali, aimed at reducing taxes on essential goods and providing relief to MSMEs, local vendors, and consumers. Welcoming the move, healthcare industry lobby group NATHEALTH said the forthcoming GST reforms present a timely opportunity to revisit the healthcare sector's tax framework, which has remained largely excluded from previous exercises. 'For healthcare, GST slabs should be standardised at 5 per cent, and wherever GST output payments are applicable, providers should be permitted to claim input credit,' the body stated. Under the current regime, medical devices fall under the 12 per cent slab, while services such as contractual manpower attract 18 per cent GST. The proposed revamp is expected to discontinue the 12 per cent and 28 per cent slabs, while continuing with the 5 per cent and 18 per cent slabs. According to NATHEALTH, embedded taxes amount to an estimated 5.7 per cent of total revenue for hospitals, while for diagnostic laboratories and testing centres, the impact is around 5.8 per cent. 'A pragmatic GST structure will ease the burden on providers while directly benefiting millions of Indians who rely on quality care,' said Ameera Shah, President of NATHEALTH. 'It will also reinforce investor confidence, giving the sector the stability to expand capacity and scale innovation, thereby making healthcare more affordable and accessible for all,' she added. The lobby group has also urged that healthcare businesses be allowed to claim input tax credit (ITC) on the lines of other industries such as textiles. The Input tax credit (ITC) in the existing GST rules of 2017 is a system that helps businesses to reduce their tax liability by claiming credits on GST paid for business-related purchases. Meanwhile, speaking to ETHealthworld, Vishal Manchanda, pharma analyst at Systematix Group , said, 'For companies, the proposed revamp may aid volumes slightly, though it will remain margin neutral.' 'The benefits will be passed on to consumers, making drugs more affordable,' he added. Currently, pharmaceuticals—including essential and life-saving drugs—are placed under the 5 per cent slab, which is expected to continue under the new framework. According to several investment bank reports, the proposed rationalisation could result in a revenue loss of over ₹1 lakh crore annually, or in the range of 0.3-0.5 per cent of the GDP—with states expected to bear a greater share of the burden, as they receive over 40 per cent of CGST inflows in addition to their own SGST collections.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
03-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Luma Fertility raises $4 mn in seed funding led by Peak XV's Surge
Mumbai-based fertility health-tech startup Luma Fertility has raised $4 million in seed funding, led by Peak XV's Surge, with participation from Ameera Shah (Metropolis Healthcare) and Vijay Taparia (B2V Ventures). The funding will help Luma expand its footprint in Mumbai and later scale into subsequent cities over the next two years. Ameera Shah, promoter and executive chairperson of Metropolis Healthcare, said, 'Fertility care in India is at an inflection point. Demand is growing rapidly, but the system is deeply fragmented and outdated. Patients are forced to navigate a maze of clinics, labs, and specialists with little coordination or support.' Founded by Neha K. Motwani, Luma Fertility's 6,000-square-foot facility houses a lab and offers comprehensive in-house fertility procedures. Luma is the first IVF clinic to launch an integrated app, allowing patients to track their treatment, access reports, and stay informed. Its AI-enabled tool, LumaAI, offers 24/7, jargon-free support on everything from cycle timelines to medication guidance. The global fertility services market is projected to reach $53 billion by 2030, driven by factors such as delayed parenthood, increasing age-related infertility, and declining global fertility rates. In India, the total fertility rate is at a historic low, declining from 2.1 to 1.9 births per woman. Over 33 million couples in the country face fertility challenges, with IVF cycles expected to grow from 320,000 in 2024 to 550,000 by 2028. As India's economy evolves and per capita income rises, there is significant latent demand for transparent, patient-centric, and tech-enabled fertility solutions, including egg and embryo freezing.
Economic Times
03-07-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
FerTech startup Luma Fertility raises $4 million from Peak XV's Surge fund, others
Mumbai-based fertility-tech startup Luma Fertility has raised $4 million in a round led by Peak XV's Surge platform, which provides seed funding to startups. The round also saw Ameera Shah, executive chairperson of diagnostic company Metropolis Healthcare, and Vijay Taparia, chairman of venture capital firm B2V Ventures, participate. Luma Fertility will use the funds to open more full-stack fertility clinics in Mumbai and expand to other cities over the next two years. 'From my own experience and after speaking to hundreds of women, it became clear that fertility care in India is broken. It's optimised for systems, not people. At Luma, we've rebuilt it from the ground up—designed entirely around the patient,' said Neha K Motwani, the startup's founder, in a prepared statement. Motwani had earlier built fitness marketplace Fitternity, which was acquired by in 2021. Currently, the company has a 6,000 sq ft flagship clinic located in Mumbai's Bandra West. The clinic offers services such as in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), egg and embryo freezing, fertility assessments, and pre-conception consultations. It also has an AI-enabled tool, LumaAI, to assist patients.'Fertility care in India is at an inflection point. Demand is growing rapidly, but the system is deeply fragmented and outdated,' Metropolis Healthcare's Shah said in a statement.B2V Ventures' Taparia, added, 'Having backed Neha in her earlier venture, I've seen firsthand her ability to build with conviction and scale with integrity. Moreover, there is a clear need for consumer-first healthcare in India, especially in single-specialty verticals like fertility.'
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
FerTech startup Luma Fertility raises $4 million from Peak XV's Surge fund, others
Mumbai-based fertility-tech startup Luma Fertility has raised $4 million in a round led by Peak XV's Surge platform, which provides seed funding to round also saw Ameera Shah, executive chairperson of diagnostic company Metropolis Healthcare , and Vijay Taparia, chairman of venture capital firm B2V Ventures, Fertility will use the funds to open more full-stack fertility clinics in Mumbai and expand to other cities over the next two years.'From my own experience and after speaking to hundreds of women, it became clear that fertility care in India is broken. It's optimised for systems, not people. At Luma, we've rebuilt it from the ground up—designed entirely around the patient,' said Neha K Motwani, the startup's founder, in a prepared statement. Motwani had earlier built fitness marketplace Fitternity, which was acquired by in the company has a 6,000 sq ft flagship clinic located in Mumbai's Bandra West. The clinic offers services such as in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), egg and embryo freezing, fertility assessments, and pre-conception consultations. It also has an AI-enabled tool, LumaAI, to assist patients.'Fertility care in India is at an inflection point. Demand is growing rapidly, but the system is deeply fragmented and outdated,' Metropolis Healthcare's Shah said in a statement.B2V Ventures' Taparia, added, 'Having backed Neha in her earlier venture, I've seen firsthand her ability to build with conviction and scale with integrity. Moreover, there is a clear need for consumer-first healthcare in India, especially in single-specialty verticals like fertility.'
