Grant tax exemption waivers for immediate clearance of anti-retroviral drugs – Minority demands
The Minority in Parliament wants the Finance Ministry to immediately grant tax exemption waivers for the immediate clearance of anti-retroviral drugs and other medical equipment and consumables at the port.
The Ghana Network of Persons Living with HIV (NAP+ Ghana) has revealed that Ghana is experiencing a shortage of anti-retroviral medication specifically the Abacavir Lamivudine regimen for Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV) across the country.
The Abacavir Lamivudine regimen is one of the many regimens that PLHIV needs daily to attain viral suppression, keep healthy and productive and in so doing, enable the country to reduce new HIV infections and end AIDS by 2030.
A release signed by the Ranking Member on the Health Committee, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh said “the Minority in Parliament finds it unconscionable gross dereliction of duty that government officials in the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance will leave, since July 2023, donated containers of HIV anti-retroviral drugs at the ports creating needless shortages for Persons Living with HIV.”
According to the minority, they would not “sit aloof and let government plunge us all into needless danger.”
This, Minority statement explained is because the shortage of anti-retroviral medication is a national emergency.
According to the release, the situation “if unchecked could lead to an increase in the prevalence rate of HIV in Ghana, increase in morbidity and mortality for Persons Living with HIV, and increase the overall cost of HIV management in Ghana.”
“The health and well-being of Ghanaians are non-negotiable, and we urge the government to act swiftly and responsibly in addressing this crisis,” portions of the release stated.
The Minority also called for the implementation of an automated tax exemption waiver system for medical consumables and equipment to curtail needless delays in clearing such items at the port.
Again, they asked the Finance Ministry to Institute reforms at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to ensure that systemic failures that lead to needless delays in the performance of its functions are eradicated.
Source: Ghana News
