Dec. 17: A committee has proposed a 2 per cent health cess to fund an insurance scheme for the poor but the Centre has not yet taken a decision on implementing the levy.

“Under the new drug policy for 2006-10, we have proposed introduction of a 2 per cent health cess across all sectors of the country on the lines of education cess,” chemicals and petrochemicals joint secretary G.S. Sandhu said at the annual day celebrations of the Indian Drug Manufacturers’ Association in Mumbai.

If levied, the cess will raise Rs 6,000 crore.