E-DRUG: Should life saving medicines be taxed?
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Very good morning!
Taxes are important component which add up the markup of the price
which patient pay (PPP) for the medicines. All taxes are finally
passed to the consumer.
It is nausiating and sickening that an ailing patient be made to pay
higher prices for the essential medicines, the medicines so determined
essential, by the Govt itself in EML. Further, the Govts which are
memeber states of WHO, have signed the declaration that they will make
all efforts to make the essential medicines affordable and take steps
to decrease the medicine prices.
Life saving/vital medicines are not peanuts or candies that will be
gulped at will by those interested in indulging.These are the
medicines required by the grossly ill, serious patients, who are
critical and may not survive if the medicines are not made available
to them. Such patients obviously have reduced power of earning. Making
such patients pay more prices for medicines required for their
survival is most unethical. It amounts to inviting coffins for the
patients by filling the tax coffers.
In India health is a State subject and State is supposed to provide
all the health facilities for the health of citizenry. On its count
the Govt has failed to provide this. And instead imposition of various
taxes on life saving medicines is reversal of above responsibilty the
Govt has been entrusted by the Constitution.
In a democracy a Govt is "for" the people. I fail to understand how
taxing the life saving medicines is in the interest of the people?
This issue is partly in the domain of policy makers but if their
domains are not thinking right than the rationalists have to speak.
The younger activists need to understand the pain and anguish being
suffered due to wrong policies. Matters relating to public health can
not be left alone to the walls of the AC chambers of ministers and
bureaucrats, who never pay from the pockets for the medicines they use
and therefore are insensitive to this issue.Their sensitivity needs to
be aroused, kindled and impressed with the peoples expectations.
When the patients are not organised, not knowing their patient rights,
are unable to take a stand, are always at the receiving end, being
perpetually exploited in the name of medicines - asking for removal of
taxes on life saving medicines is no crime. I have the courage of
conviction to stand by the patients.
For those who differ and favour the proposition, NetRUM awaits their
postings.
(Copied in best interest of broadcasting from http://groups.yahoo.com/group/netrum )
Vijay
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Dr Vijay Thawani
14-A, Jeevan Jyoti, Clarke Town,
Nagpur-440 004, India.
Net group: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/netrum
Blog: http://vijaythawani.blogspot.com
Land line:(Res)+91-712-2522977
Cell: +91-9970195474
"Vijay Thawani" <vijaythawani@rediffmail.com>