Source: Jornal NH - Novo Hamburgo / RS - 05/05/2010

Porto Alegre - The State Government announced, this Wednesday, the reduction of ICMS on reference drugs (brand) in Rio Grande do Sul. The measure establishes that the base of calculation of ICMS for these drugs goes from 90% to 85 % of the Maximum Consumer Price (PMC) in Rio Grande do Sul. According to the governor, Yeda Crusius, the measure will benefit pharmacies, with reduced costs, and, especially, consumers, who will be able to purchase these drugs at lower prices. .

The Finance Secretary, Ricardo Englert, explains that the payment of the ICMS for medications is done through tax substitution. In the case of medicines, this reference value is defined by the pharmaceutical industry. The product leaves the industry with the maximum price to be charged, the PMC. "As has already happened with generics, we found that the prices charged by the market were lower than those suggested by the industry and we adapted the taxation to the prices actually charged," said the secretary. The director of State Revenue, Júlio César Grazziotin, said that the survey carried out by the team from the Revenue Department verified the price difference, which led to an increase in the discount from 10% to 15% of the PMC. In the coming months, new research will be carried out to monitor the discounts practiced by the market, with a view to updating the value-added margins.

For the director of medicines distributor Dimed, Roberto Coimbra, the Government's announcement means an effective tax reduction on the spot, since the drug chain is highly taxed. “With this measure, the Government is approaching realistic taxation, reflecting what happens in retail. It encourages trade and benefits the end consumer ”, reported Coimbra.