The original article can be found in: The Voice By Micah G. George
GOVERNMENT’S removal of the value added tax on medication purchased at public health institutions and not on medication purchased from private facilities is getting heat from the Saint Lucia Medical and Dental Association.
The Association is offering its expertise to the government and is prepared to partner with the government to develop a list of medications that government could remove the VAT off or categorize them as zero rated.
The problem, as outlined by the Association is quite simple. Patients who cannot find their medication at the reduced price at public health institutions will have to purchase the medication elsewhere on the island at a higher price which they are unable to afford.
The patients’ inability to purchase their much needed medication puts them in a position that could be quite dire to their survival.
The Association has warned of a possible increase in patients’ condition and even death due to their inability to purchase the vat-added medication.
The Association this week and last week has been expressing what it says is its deep concern with the imposition of the VAT on prescription medication.
“We have seen that the increased price of medication has affected our patients, detrimentally especially those with chronic diseases. It is with dismay that we see our patients unable to fill their quota of necessary medications. This will have significant consequences including increased morbidity and mortality of patients. We anticipate that without thoughtful intervention now there will be significant and economic consequences due to increased hospitalization and reduced productivity of people as a result of increased blindness, strokes, heart attacks, kidney failure, dialysis, devastating disability, death and family bereavement,” stated a release from the Association.
The Association feels that government’s absorption of the VAT on medication in the public sector while maintaining the VAT on all medications elsewhere has compounded the problem.
“Patients and doctors are well aware of the myriad of deficiencies in the public pharmaceutical service including unavailability of many types of pharmaceuticals, the inconvenience of public pharmacies and the many instances of ‘stock-outs’ which result in medication being unavailable,” the Association wrote last week.
The Association has two questions for the government: (1) Does the government consider access to prescription medication for all to be a priority? (2) Is the private sector a valued partner in the delivery of health care?
The Ministry of Health for its part can’t say much as the situation now stands reiterating that the prime minister has made it clear that the present situation concerning vat and medication in the country will be reviewed periodically.
The VOICE contacted the Ministry yesterday only to be told that the Ministry is constantly reviewing and assessing the situation.
