Brazil eases taxes on imported medications used to treat Covid

The Ministry of Economy Chamber of Foreign Trade announced, on the 17th, the extension of a tax cut on imported medications linked to the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. The list included drugs with a risk of shortages, such as oxytocin and neostigmine.

“Thirteen new pharmaceutical ingredients/drugs were included, based on recommendations from the Ministry of Health,” Camex said in a note.

In early June, medical entities sent the Ministry of Health an alert about the low stock of five drugs for hospital and pre-hospital use: dipyrone, neostigmine, atropine, amikacin, and oxytocin, all injectable. As a result, the associations asked the folder to help regulate the market.

The tax reduction regime that would expire on June 30 has been extended until the end of 2022.

“As a result, the rate of a broad list of 645 products used in the fight against Covid-19, including imported medications, healthcare equipment, personal hygiene items, and other supplies, will stay zero,” the ministry stated.

According to representatives of medical associations, the decision will help solve part of the problem of low stock of medicines. However, there are still drugs that did not appear on the list.

The executive secretary of Conasems (National Council of Municipal Health Departments), Mauro Junqueira, said that municipalities and hospitals continue to have difficulty buying such medicines. “Several actions are necessary [to regulate the market], including expanding import operation of key drugs and banning exports, which the Ministry of Health is considering for products in low supply. So let’s see if it gets resolved,” he said.

Brazil’s government created the “Covid list” to expand the supply of pandemic-fighting medicines, as well as machines and inputs utilized in the domestic production of these products. The goal is to enhance availability while lowering expenses for the Brazilian health system and citizens.

Source: Cidade Verde

To read the full original article, please go to: https://cidadeverde.com/noticias/370699/governo-prorroga-reducao-de-imposto-sob-importacao-de-remedios-da-lista-covid

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