Salary - perquisite - medical reimbursement

This query is : Resolved

Adhithya (Querist)
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17 December 2011 Sir/Madam,

Sec 17 states that the following is exempt:

(ii) Any sum paid by the employer in respect of any expenditure actually incurred by the employee on his medical treatment or treatment of any member of his family -

(a) In any hospital maintained by the Government or any local authority or any other hospital approved by the Government for the purposes of medical treatment of its employees;

My query is what does medical treatment actually stand for? Does this include expenses incurred for purchase of medicine? This has not been defined in the act. My colleague has incurred heavy expenditure on purchase of medicine of close to 6 Lakhs and the cost of hospitalization was very less. This amount was reimbursed by the employer. The employer is deducting tax on the 6 lakhs as he opines that the expenditure incurred on purchase of medicine is out of the scope medical treatment. The TDS is eating up the entire salary and the take home is less than Rs. 1000. Request you to please advise on the above matter ASAP. Thanking you in advance.