Emergency hormonal contraception prices fall with reduction in VAT
The price of emergency hormonal contraception (EHC) is set to
drop by around £3, after the Government’s promised VAT reduction
came into effect last weekend. Following talks with community pharmacies
and sexual health charities, the HM Treasury announced the
change, which cuts VAT on condoms, EHC and other contraceptives
to 5 per cent.
The move, a commitment of the March budget (PJ, 25 March,
p339), is part of a larger strategy, says the Government, to improve the
nation’s sexual health and prevent sexually transmitted infections.
Condoms, which, according to the Treasury, make up around 99
per cent of contraceptive sales, will cost around 30p less for a packet
of three.
Superdrug began campaigning in 2005 to have VAT reduced on
condom sales.The campaign included the delivery of 19,000 condoms
to the steps of the Treasury last year.
Sid Dajani, chairman of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society practice
committee, commented: “We hope that more affordable contraception
will mean even more people will be able to practise safer sex and
to visit their pharmacy where they can gain expert advice on issues
also relating to sexual health and wellbeing.”
Sun care products
Calls to remove VAT from sun care products
in next year’s budget are gaining momentum. A cross-party House of
Commons motion has urged Chancellor Gordon Brown to reclassify
sun blocks as essential health care items.Tabled by Bob Spink (Con,
Castle Point), the motion was also sponsored by Liberal Democrat
Bob Russell (Colchester) and Northern Ireland MP Mark Durkan
(SDLP, Foyle). Their move follows similar demands from Superdrug
and the Institute of Cancer Research.A Treasury official said that there
are no plans to scrap or reduce VAT on such products, although classification
of essential health care items is under constant review. |
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