[e-drug] Financing regulatory authorities

[Kibumba George <kibumba@yahoo.com>]

E-drug: Financing regulatory authorities
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Dear E-druggers,

Ministries of Health are often judged by presence or absence of
quality drugs, which should be used in a cost-effective manner.

How then, can a Ministry of Health fail to budget for activities of a
Drug Regulatory Authority. In fact, if citizens of a country heard
that part of their money (collected as tax), is used for Regulating
quality, inflow, distribution and use of pharmaceuticals -- many
would be happy. I therefore believe that governments must budget
for activities of their Drug Regulatory Authority.

In cases of budget deficits, a small tax may be levied on low-price
pharmaceuticals which are not life-saving or life-prolonging. Such
pharmaceuticals may include: aspirin, paracetamol, magnesium,
multivitamins, cough and cold remedies, etc. 

Otherwise, imposing tax on all pharmaceutical imports is unlogical.
It will make expensive products more inaccessible. Note that in my
country, almost 95% of pharmaceuticals are imported. And in the
next 5 years we will probably not be able to manufacture all
essential pharmaceuticals.

We have to import effective, expensive and vital antibiotics. Drugs
for HIV and opportunistic infections are already too expensive to
afford. Medications for hypertension, epilepsy and other chronic
disorders are also expensive. Uganda currently imposes a tax of 1%
on the price of all items to be imported, or a minimum of 29 USD
(whichever is greater), for every proforma invoice. This will affect
access to life-saving and life-prolonging pharmaceuticals.

Regards, 

George Kibumba, MPS

Community and Drug Information Pharmacist / Uganda
Personal e-mail: kibumba@yahoo.com
Office e-mail: did.jms@imul.com 


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