Sales Tax Exemption (Tamil Nadu) for HIVdrug combinations

[Guest guest]

Respected Shri Anbumani Ramadoss,

(By e-mail: hfm@...)

I seek your urgent intervention in ensuring that all combinations of HIV drugs

be included in the list of life saving drugs exempt under sales tax in Tamil

Nadu. In case of Tuberculosis drugs all combinations are already exempt. A

similar notification is perhaps needed for HIV/AIDS in Tamil Nadu. I enclose a

post from a Person living with HIV on AIDS INDIA discussion forum in this

regard.

I am aware that this is a state subject but I am certain that your intervention

will be of immense help in the matter.

It will also help if NACO takes urgent steps on the issue of Second line HIV

therapy.

Thanking you

C.R.Gunasekar

21, Padmavati Nagar, Station Road

Agraharam, KORATTUR

Chennai - India- 600076

Ph (+91) 44 26512584 Mob: (+91) 9444409954

e-mail: <crgunashekar@...>

________________

(Text of Message posed on groups Forum)

/message/7404

Dear FORUM,

I am a positive person for the past 12 years and as i started a first line ART

Drugs at 1995 then in 2005 the drugs failure happens so i changed for second

line drugs.

I am sending this message to AIDS INDIA e-FORUM, so that some of the members may

be able to do something about my concerns about the Sales tax for the ART Drugs

Dear FORUM members, the cost of the medicine for second line is very high. Even

though various advertisements mention that there is no sales tax for the life

saving medicines. But. i am purchasing the CIPLA medicine and the medicines are

charged 4% sales tax.

Please consider all the 2nd line medications are also as medicines for life

threatening conditions, and provide a tax exemption for these medicines. This is

very much essential for the survival of many persons living with HIV/AIDS.

Even the first line drug considered three drug combination also attract 4% sales

tax (VIRADAY)

It seems that the above sales tax is only for Tamilnadu patients. Why is this

discrimination?

The following are some of the ARV drugs charging 4% sales tax

1.Abacavir Abamune

2.Tenofovir Tenvir

3.Nelfinavir Nelvir

4.Tenofovir+Emtricitabine Tenvir EM

5.Lopinavir+ Ritonavir Lopimune

6.Tenofovir+Emtricitabine+Efavirenz Viraday

7.Nelfinavir Nelvir

8.Indinavir Indivan 400

9.Saqunavir Maximune. etc

If any of you need a written statement, and also I could collect signature on a

petition, if it is useful to give it to any particular person.

Please consider and save lives.

Thank you, yours truly

Selvarj

Vellore

e-mail: <velloreart@...>