Flying for a noble cause

[Guest guest]

Flying for a noble cause

Kounteya Sinha

[14 Oct, 2006 0158hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]

NEW DELHI: India will be one of the main beneficiaries of a new

funding programme called UNITAID, under which 19 countries have

committed themselves to levy a tax on airline tickets to raise money

and purchase drugs for developing countries, fighting diseases like

TB, AIDS and malaria.

The countries to have joined UNITAID include France, Brazil,

Britain, Chile, Cambodia, Cameroon, Congo, Cyprus, Jordan,

Luxembourg, Mauritius, Nicaragua, Norway and South Korea. France,

Brazil, Chile and Gabon have started to levy the tax, while others

will follow suit by early 2007.

UNITAID was launched last month and is based in the World Health

Organisation in Geneva. France is levying a tax of one Euro a

ticket, on domestic or European economy class flight and four Euros

on a business or first class seat. These figures are multiplied by

four for transcontinental journeys.

The countries hope to raise 50 million Euros (about $63 million)

through the programme, by 2006-end and 300 million Euros (about $378

million) by 2007. India has been made a member of UNITAID's advisory

group that will finalise the mechanism of raising and channelling

the money to developing countries.

However, India has made it clear that although, it will support the

programme, but will not impose airline tax as the finance ministry

is against a double taxation policy.

With the money raised, India will receive additional anti-retroviral

drugs for AIDS patients, the much needed artesunate for malaria

programme and drugs to combat multi-drug resistant TB.

UNITAID officials have set a target of supplying medicines to about

100,000 children suffering from HIV/AIDS and 150,000 with TB by

2007.

Speaking to TOI, a senior health ministry official said: " UNITAID is

a good idea and we support it whole-heartedly. However, both the

finance ministry and ministry of external affairs, who along with

the I & B ministry are coordinating the project, have opposed levying

airline tax as it is against India's policy.

Also, it will increase price of air travel, which is already high

due to rising fuel prices. We, however, are providing technical know-

how on ways the money collected can be channelled to developing

countries. "

India has held two meetings with board members of Global Fund and

the French government to finalise the country's participation in

UNITAID. " Countries with the highest number of approved

international projects on TB, AIDS and malaria will be given bulk of

money to purchase drugs.

India will be the main beneficiary because we are implementing some

large projects funded by the World Bank, Global Fund, USAID, Bill

and Melinda Gates Foundation, UNICEF, Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative

and DFID to counter these three diseases, " the official added.

Canada, Germany and the US have opposed the levy. Several airlines,

including France's national carrier Air France, complained that it

would add to the cost of air travel and hurt business and tourism.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-2170990,curpg-

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