ISLAMABAD, April 15: Society for the Welfare of Poor Patients has appealed to President Gen Pervez Musharraf to immediately withdraw 15 per cent general sales tax (GST) on all medicines.

In a letter to the president, the society has urged the health ministry to play its role to ensure the availability of quality drugs at economical prices.

The letter, duly signed by the society president, Dr Zaheer Afzal, and general-secretary Dr Waqar A Malik, has suggested that every drug prescribed by the doctors is essential and life-saving for patients. The list of 256 life-saving medicines prepared by the Central Board of Revenue is very short, and hardly covers 8,000 out of 25,000 registered brands by the health ministry.

The letter said 50,000 chemists were continuously protesting against the imposition of the GST on drugs. With the passage of time, the problem is becoming increasingly serious, it added.