Need for Urgent Fiscal and Non-Fiscal Interventions to Deal With COVID-19 Impact: Healthcare Industry

NEW DELHI, India, March 27 -- The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry issued the following news release on March 26:

While appreciating government's efforts to contain the Covid-19 outbreak, FICCI, jointly with the healthcare industry, AHPI, ASSOCHAM, Indian Chamber of Commerce, PhD Chamber of Commerce, PHANA Karnataka and NATHEALTH, emphasised on the immediate need for fiscal and non-fiscal interventions from government to support the healthcare sector to deal with COVID-19 impact.The Industry leaders recommended both fiscal and non-fiscal interventions for several sectors with focus on the service sector, especially Hospitals, Diagnostics, Pathology Labs, Med Tech, Insurance, Home Care and other healthcare service providers.

"The services sector, which accounts for about 55% of India's GDP, is poised to be the worst hit due to actions such as mandatory and self-imposed curfew. The social distancing measures would lead to lower footfalls in the healthcare sector, the decline in elective procedure volume and sub-optimal operating efficiencies that will have a severe impact on the cash flows of companies in the capital-intensive sector. The industry is also suffering from reduced availability & elevated pricing observed for certain essential consumable items," the Representation to the government pointed out.

"Also, the global supply chains are in turmoil driving up shortages causing significant hike in the input costs which cannot be passed on to consumers as healthcare services are exempt from GST and many of the critical items are capped in prices. Apart from the healthcare facilities, medical devices, diagnostics and health insurance too have also been affected due to the supply-chain and demand disruptions," it said.

Covid-19 needs all health workers to be motivated and secured as a united front. Finance Minister's announcement today to provide Rs 50 Lakh health insurance per health worker for 3 months due to Coronavirus is indeed the much needed encouragement and relief. Health Services including Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Diagnostic Labs and Homecare, need immediate fiscal intervention. Industry leaders strongly recommended the government to ensure working capital that would help the hospitals continue to operate at near-normal levels and both COVID-19 and non COVID 19 patients can avail the services. The industry called for six to nine months' moratorium on all working capital, principal, interest payments on loans and overdrafts, bringing in liquidity and allowing for business continuity.

Dubbing it as a critical fiscal intervention, the healthcare industry sought short-term interest-free loans for augmenting capacity, and to ensure smooth hospital operations without supply-chain disruptions. The government also was requested to examine grant or subsidy as an interim market support mechanism.

To maintain operational expenditure including payment of salaries to health professionals on time, the Industry suggested cash flow to the government should immediately release 100 per cent Central and State Government dues to the sector under various schemes such as CGHC, ECHS, State Schemes, GIPSA among other. The Representation also seeks urgent release of Income Tax refunds and to allow a quarter's postponement on compliances, payment of insurance without the policies getting lapsed.

The Healthcare leaders said that a waiver of GST on input costs and services for two quarters would help enormously. "This would also ensure that hospitals are not forced to curtail the outsource services like House Keeping, Security and F&B (all of which have significant GST levies), in turn causing loss of jobs people employed in those sectors. Deferment of pre-payment of loan for 12 months should be allowed. Deferment of advance tax payments at the Central Government level would also be a significant fiscal intervention," the Representation said.

For Medical Devices industry, the Representation appealed for cut down on custom duty across the board for life-saving medical equipment and set up a credit window facility that can help augment infrastructure during this period of great turmoil. It also suggested withdrawal of Health Cess Ad Valorem from medical devices so that the health cess will apply only to basic customs duty. The Representation also emphasised that government should clear all outstanding and make timely payment for upcoming procurements from government Institutions in the current crisis, which will go a long way in supporting med-tech companies.

The industry leaders are of the view that along with fiscal incentives and support, non-fiscal interventions would be equally critical.

"Further to the Ministry of Health guidelines on home quarantine and telemedicine, the government should also issue standard guidelines for Home Healthcare Providers notifying them under ambit of Clinical Establishment act, as they can contribute by remote monitoring of cases by monitoring patients for symptoms in-home quarantine, patients in E-ICU beyond metros, cases recovering from COVID-19 and preventing or managing relapse," the Representation paper said.

Key Recommendations:

* Six to nine months' moratorium on all working capital, principal, interest payments on loans and overdrafts, bringing in liquidity and allowing for business continuity. Deferment of advance tax payments at the Central Government level

* A waiver of GST on input costs and services for 2 quarters.

* At least 50% rebate on the current Commercial Rates of Power currently being paid by hospitals, diagnostics centers, pathology labs and other healthcare service providers to ensure sustenance of business*

* Subsidy @ 25% of salary for healthcare staff for the next 3 months

* Reimbursement of employer's contributions towards ESIC & PF

* Comprehensive Medical and life insurance benefits for all public and private sector frontline workers, ensuring continuous availability of PPE/supplies.

* Issue standard guidelines for Home Healthcare Providers, as they can contribute by remote monitoring of cases by monitoring patients for symptoms in home quarantine, patients in E-ICU beyond metros, cases recovering from COVID-19 and preventing or managing relapse recognizing their services under Clinical Establishment Act.

Other Key Recommendations

* GST waiver for online education and interest subsidies

* The impetus to online teaching & Support for setting up of skill labs and simulation centres at the medical college/ teaching hospital

* Increase the number of healthcare professionals across the gamut in our country by Tripling the intake of nursing students from current levels

* In medical colleges, some relaxations to be considered vide Standard Requirements Guidelines during this period

* The system should be in place to ensure there are no blockages in Manufacturing Essential Pharmaceutical products including Hand Sanitizers, Face Masks etc. Also PHARMA testing

* Laboratories should be rapidly expanded and made fully operational.

Critical Non-Fiscal Recommendations

* Create a nodal department on a war footing for MSMEs where all the queries related to essential supplies for Covid19 can be directed to for immediate action.

* Notification to be issued for procurement by the government on a direct basis, based on specifications and previous supply credentials, and not through HLL/tendering

* Allow a preferential clearance of medical devices/ spare parts/ raw materials in airports and seaports. A very large backlog is expected post international flight landing restrictions which will result in delaying customs clearance.

* Fast track regulatory approval for diagnostic kits and new drugs identified for COVID 19 (eq. hydroxy chloroquine is now approved by USFDA for COVID)

* Explore other available testing technologies beyond RT PCR to enhance access in masses.

* Health Insurance: Government to provide relief for GST payable and reduce it to 5% so that more people would be able to afford to buy Health Insurance especially the senior citizens aged 60 and above.