Why charge import duty on donated items? – Philanthropist asks government
To expand access to quality healthcare delivery, the Peace and Love Hospital has presented medical supplies free of charge to 400 health facilities in rural areas across Ghana.
The supplies which include drips, vaginal speculum, pregnancy supplements, intravenous infusion, and some medications, are among part of consignments donated by Direct Relief, an international humanitarian aid organization.
The intervention is geared towards complimenting Ghana’s effort to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 3 target of Access to Quality Healthcare for All by 2030.
Handing over the medical supplies to the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), Chief Executive Officer of Peace and Love hospital Dr Beatrice Wiafe Addai implored the beneficiary facilities not to sell the items to patients.
“Many patients cannot afford essential medications, and these supplies are meant to bring relief to such patients. Make sure needy patients benefit from this free of charge,” she reiterated.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees for CHAG, Kwaku Frimpong received the items for onward distribution to the health facilities.
“This is timely considering the hard time we find ourselves in. We will ensure that all the beneficiary CHAG facilities give the medicines free of charge to patients”, he reassured.
300 CHAG facilities and 100 other health facilities are to benefit from the medical supplies.
Dr Beatrice Wiafe, who also doubles as the President of Breast Care International, added her voice to calls for government to implement an automated tax exemption waiver system for medical consumables and equipment to curtail needless delays in clearing such items at the port continue to intensify.
She argued that the high port charges on donated medical goods may hinder many donors from sending more medications and equipment to support under-resourced health facilities in the country.
“These consignments are mostly sent to less-endowed areas to be given to patients free. If someone donates this, why should we pay duties on it? Government can at least reduce the duty cost”, she lamented.
