Alcohol and nicotine – for cancer treatment
Benefit from harm
The Movement against Cancer proposes to finance the treatment of cancer patients through a tax on the sale of alcohol and tobacco.
Participants of the second annual forum "Movement against Cancer", which opens in Moscow on February 4, have prepared an appeal to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin with a proposal to introduce a special tax on sales of tobacco and alcohol products. The proceeds from the new tax are proposed to be used as an additional source of funding for state programs of drug provision for cancer patients.
Representatives of the movement note that the National Oncological Program for improving the organization of oncological care for the population for 2009-2012 and the new insurance system of drug provision should guarantee all cancer patients (regardless of the stage of the disease and the degree of disability) access to modern, innovative diagnostic and treatment tools.
According to the Ministry of Health and Social Development, it is planned to allocate 28 billion rubles for the implementation of the national program. Activists of the movement believe that a tax of 1 ruble levied on every pack of cigarettes sold and every bottle of alcohol will double the cost of treating patients with rare and serious diseases.
Irina Vlasova, GZT.RU
Portal "Eternal youth" www.vechnayamolodost.ru04.02.2009