A new report from The Campaign for Fighting Diseases draws attention to the scandalously high tariffs and taxes on drugs in developing countries. Indian tariffs can be as high as 55% on pharmaceuticals.
Clearly campaigners need to be focussing resources on tackling the problem of punitive taxes on medicines. Benedict Irvine, director of the Health Project at the International Policy Network, rightly concludes that "it is morally reprehensible that the governments of poor countries should continue to drive up the price of medicines through taxes, tariffs and regulations. These constitute a regressive, unwarranted tax on the sick and a barrier to treatment, condemning untold numbers to death."