<h1>Next Gen GST reforms exempt health and life insurance premiums and cut GST on medicines, devices, diagnostics, and gyms</h1> The government approved Next-Gen GST reforms that exempt individual health and life insurance premiums and reduce GST rates on various medical goods and services-including essential medicines, medical devices, spectacles, diagnostic kits, bio-medical waste treatment, and pharmaceutical job-work-aiming to lower out-of-pocket costs, correct inverted duty structures, and boost domestic manufacturing and insurance uptake; healthcare services remain exempt. The package also cuts GST on gyms and fitness centres but expressly excludes tax reductions for tobacco, pan masala, and sugary drinks. The measures are presented as balancing affordability, preventive care incentives, and ease of doing business.