Sales Tax on ART Drugs in Tamilnadu

[Guest guest]

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@...>

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum,

The concern of Mr. Selvaraj about sales Tax on ART Drugs in Tamilnadu is very

genuine.

This also brings to fore, necessity to form a coalion of various NGOs working

for and with the HIV/AIDS cause, as suggested by Dr. Ashok Rau in the interview

with him posted on the FORUM, to come

together and work not only on sales tax but on the following very

important issues:

1. Sales Tax

2. Service Tax on consultants who are being remunerated by NGOs from out of

funds/grants/donations or such charities. An amount of 12.24% on consultancy

fee works out to a very large proportion. Even funding agencies especially

international agencies, suggest measures to be taken by the recipients, to

obtain exemption.

3. Railway / Bus concessions like the one given to cancer and heart

patients for self and one accompanying person.

4. Insurance schemes

5. Uniform regulations on the age limits for widow pension, considering that

there are many young widows, even at the age of 20.

6. A marketing federation for the goods produced by the Self Help Groups as

well as individual or cooperative efforts. This will serve as a booster for

people to rely on their own capabilities or to enhance their capabilities in

order to earn for a better living.

All the above and many more issues can be resolved if and only if there is a

cooperative approach to the issue. The people who are against providing such

concessions on sales tax and service tax etc., are of the opinion that by

providing concessions, revenues to the government are being sacrificed.

While I would like to put it that the revenues are being spent or utilised by

the NGOs in a more focussed approach.

There should be a combined meeting of the finance minister, revenue

officials and representatives of NGOs who understand service to the people as

well as finance, to thrash out the issues and suggest measures to be taken up

including the modus operandi of implementation.

If we can start this now, atleast we should be able to achieve some

changes in the 2008-09 budget in a more effective way.

S. VIJAYAKUMAR

E-MAIL: vijayakumar@...