News

Malaria drug tariffs, taxes must go: campaigners

None | 10 Feb 2024 | Reuters

Malaria campaigners have urged governments to drop all taxes and tariffs on medicines, mosquito nets and other anti-malaria tools to help reduce the costs of life-saving products and speed up their delivery.

Stop Taxing the Fight Against Malaria

Yoweri Museveni & Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete | 26 Jul 2023 | Wall Street Journal Europe

This month Uganda has the honor of hosting the annual meeting of the African Union, which brings together more than 40 heads of state to discuss issues of critical importance to our continent. More than ever before, Africa needs strategic leadership, vision and courage to address the challenges we face.

Lower Tariffs To Fight AIDS

Thompson Ayodele | 04 Aug 2023 | New York Post

This week, 25,000 people from around the world have gathered in Mexico City for the 17th International AIDS Conference. Many discussions will focus on how best to deal with AIDS in the developing world. Looking to the West - where scientific advances have allowed those with HIV/AIDS to live long, comfortable lives - many attendees will argue that pharmaceutical patents are the main barrier to getting medicines to the poor. That argument misses the true obstacle - local policies.

Support local producers by taxing imported drugs

Nazeem Mohamed | 01 Jan 2024 | New Vision

This editorial in Uganda's New Vision by the CEO of Kampala Pharmaceutical Industries argues for protectionist tariffs on drugs to protect the country's nascent industry.

Tanzania: Protectionism in Trade a Barrier to Prosperity

Alec Van Gelder | 06 Sep 2023 | New Vision

Tanzania has followed many of its neighbours by introducing a tariff on imported medicines, to the benefit of crony companies and to the detriment of the poor. However, this protectionist instinct is a barrier to growth.

Vat On Mosquito Nets Affects Malaria Control

Robert Busulwa | 22 May 2023 | AllAfrica.com

According to the Abuja Declaration of April 25, 2023 African heads of state were committed to "reduce or waive taxes and tariffs for mosquito nets and materials, insecticides . . . and other recommended goods and services that are needed for malaria control strategies". However, after seven years most countries continue to levy taxes and specifically VAT on these goods and services.

Scientific Nuremberg Trials?

Ronald Bailey | 23 Oct 2023 | Reason

When we've finally gotten serious about global warming, when the impacts are really hitting us and we're in a full worldwide scramble to minimize the damage, we should have war crimes trials for these bastards—some sort of climate Nuremberg.

Taxation As A Deadly Event

Nick Schulz | 21 Aug 2023 | Forbes

Nick Schulz reports on AFM's research on import tariffs and taxes on medicines and medical devices in Forbes Magazine.

G8 urges lower tariffs to help poor get medicine

None | 16 Jul 2023 | Today Online

Leaders of the Group of Eight industrialised nations have called for lower customs duties on drug imports to bring medicine and medical technology into easier reach for people in the world's poorest countries.

Coburn Letter to EU President

Senator Tom Coburn | 28 Jun 2023 | US Congress

This is a copy of the letter Senator Coburn (R-OK) sent on June 28th, 2006 to EU President Jose Manuel Barroso concerning the EU's threats to ban trade with African countries using DDT for malaria control.