Tariff barriers cost lives

By Alex Singleton | 13 February 2005

Western NGOs often call for developing countries to keep their tariffs. The effects of such tariffs are particularly pernicious in the area of pharmaceuticals. A report by the International Policy Network, Diseases of Poverty (PDF), points out that many developing country governments are reducing access to drugs by adding high tariffs to imported drugs. The report says:

Compared with poverty and a lack of a health infrastructure system, tariffs may be a less important barrier to access to medicines. Nevertheless, it is morally reprehensible that the governments of poor countries should continue to drive up the costs of medicines through taxes and tariffs. These constitute a regressive, unwarranted tax on the sick and a barrier to life-saving treatment.