The government officially reinstated the customs duty exemption for anti-hemophilic factors today. This win belongs to every one of you who spoke up for those who need these life-saving treatments. Keep a close watch on supply chains to ensure these drugs reach our daycare centers without delay.
February 22, 2016
Final supporters
The Indian government has withdrawn customs duty exemption on 75+ life-saving drugs, and these include coagulation factors used in the treatment of hemophilia.
Hemophilia is already one of the most expensive disorders to deal with, and the patients in India have an incredibly hard time coping up with the costs. Many state governments have hemophilia daycare centers with "free factor" schemes in place, where factors are made available to the patients in events of hemorrhages, and this enables patients to support themselves in part. In part, because there is often a shortage of factors at these centers, and one still has fend for themselves for the most part.
The removal of customs duty exemption will lead to a steep increase in the already colossal costs, and will negatively impact both the state government programs and hemophilics' ability to purchase factors on their own. This will destory lives of many hemophilics and their families.
The government officials say that the move is intended "to provide protection to the domestic manufacturing industry and enhance the attractiveness of make in India initiative". Unfortunately, there are no viable local alternatives available for hemophilia today, and not having access to adequate amount of factors can lead to episodes of excruciating pain, deformation, and even death.
We urge the government to revisit the decision made by the department of revenue, and reinstate customs duty exemptions on anti-hemophilic factors. We also urge them to provide incentives to Indian pharma companies to manufacture these products as per the World Hemophilia Federation guidelines.
Updates
February 12, 2016
The government claims this tax shift supports domestic industry but they have ignored the reality that no local alternatives exist for our life-saving medication. Call your local representative today to demand they address these unsustainable costs. Post the petition link on your Facebook page to push this conversation into the public eye.
February 12, 2016
The momentum behind this campaign is undeniable and it proves that people refuse to let these life-saving drugs become unaffordable. Please text the link to three friends right now to ensure this pressure stays on the Department of Revenue. We need to keep this energy high until the duty exemption is fully restored.
46 Comments
As of toady, these medicines are anyway costly(one injection dosage is around 30K INR). The inadequate supply of these medicines already encouraging black market. I have seen my friend suffered from these situations. To protect domestic manufacturing, government should encourage production of equally good quality medicine with low cost. This would help patients and domestic manufacturers.
This isn't just a matter of the economy. Several thousand lives hang in the balance. Don't get their blood on their hands, reverse this decision, govt of India.
There is no commercial or health benefit from withdrawing the customs duty exemption for haemophilia treatment products
Hemophilia patients in the country need customs duty exemption. We need to think beyond Make in India and revenues when it comes to people's lives.
remove the exemptions AFTER suitable domestic manufacture of such crucial drugs has been established
Please don't impost taxes on these life saving drigs for us
Please support haemophiliacs in India by keeping the customs duty exemption and keep treatment affordable for those with an extremely painful condition. Without treatment daily life is very difficult for many... thanks
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The government officially reinstated the customs duty exemption for anti-hemophilic factors today. This win belongs to every one of you who spoke up for those who need these life-saving treatments. Keep a close watch on supply chains to ensure these drugs reach our daycare centers without delay.
February 22, 2016
Final supporters
The Indian government has withdrawn customs duty exemption on 75+ life-saving drugs, and these include coagulation factors used in the treatment of hemophilia.
Hemophilia is already one of the most expensive disorders to deal with, and the patients in India have an incredibly hard time coping up with the costs. Many state governments have hemophilia daycare centers with "free factor" schemes in place, where factors are made available to the patients in events of hemorrhages, and this enables patients to support themselves in part. In part, because there is often a shortage of factors at these centers, and one still has fend for themselves for the most part.
The removal of customs duty exemption will lead to a steep increase in the already colossal costs, and will negatively impact both the state government programs and hemophilics' ability to purchase factors on their own. This will destory lives of many hemophilics and their families.
The government officials say that the move is intended "to provide protection to the domestic manufacturing industry and enhance the attractiveness of make in India initiative". Unfortunately, there are no viable local alternatives available for hemophilia today, and not having access to adequate amount of factors can lead to episodes of excruciating pain, deformation, and even death.
We urge the government to revisit the decision made by the department of revenue, and reinstate customs duty exemptions on anti-hemophilic factors. We also urge them to provide incentives to Indian pharma companies to manufacture these products as per the World Hemophilia Federation guidelines.
Updates
February 12, 2016
The government claims this tax shift supports domestic industry but they have ignored the reality that no local alternatives exist for our life-saving medication. Call your local representative today to demand they address these unsustainable costs. Post the petition link on your Facebook page to push this conversation into the public eye.
February 12, 2016
The momentum behind this campaign is undeniable and it proves that people refuse to let these life-saving drugs become unaffordable. Please text the link to three friends right now to ensure this pressure stays on the Department of Revenue. We need to keep this energy high until the duty exemption is fully restored.
46 Comments
My brother is suffering from hemophilia, am happy he left india, as outside country are more taking care of him now at no cost, but am worried of those people who are still surviving like my brother did... Dear Indian government please stop filling your heart with blood money, dont let us think that we made a big mistake electing you as our leader. you are still our hope
As of toady, these medicines are anyway costly(one injection dosage is around 30K INR). The inadequate supply of these medicines already encouraging black market. I have seen my friend suffered from these situations. To protect domestic manufacturing, government should encourage production of equally good quality medicine with low cost. This would help patients and domestic manufacturers.
This isn't just a matter of the economy. Several thousand lives hang in the balance. Don't get their blood on their hands, reverse this decision, govt of India.
There is no commercial or health benefit from withdrawing the customs duty exemption for haemophilia treatment products
Hemophilia patients in the country need customs duty exemption. We need to think beyond Make in India and revenues when it comes to people's lives.
remove the exemptions AFTER suitable domestic manufacture of such crucial drugs has been established
Please don't impost taxes on these life saving drigs for us
Please support haemophiliacs in India by keeping the customs duty exemption and keep treatment affordable for those with an extremely painful condition. Without treatment daily life is very difficult for many... thanks
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My brother is suffering from hemophilia, am happy he left india, as outside country are more taking care of him now at no cost, but am worried of those people who are still surviving like my brother did... Dear Indian government please stop filling your heart with blood money, dont let us think that we made a big mistake electing you as our leader. you are still our hope