The pharmaceutical industry association INFADOMI says that this week’s Decree 1079-03, which exonerates imported medicines and related items from taxes, will not have any significant impact on prices for the consumer. Importers will still have to pay the exchange rate commission, recently raised from 4.5% to 10%, and retailers and consumers will still be charged the ITBIS (value-added tax). INFADOMI also attacked the transnational drug companies, which prevent local manufacturers from producing certain drugs, such as treatments for common chronic illnesses like diabetes and hypertension. These medicines produced locally could be sold to the Dominican consumer at a fraction of the current price. Imports comprise 65% of all medicines consumed in the country, and pharmaceutical importers association ARAPF is protesting the continued levy of the 10% exchange rate commission on these items, which, according to executive vice-president Fernando Ferreira Azcona is penalizing the sector. Rolando Antonio Rodriguez, representing pharmaceutical retailers, agreed that this week’s exoneration would not have much of an effect on costs as long as the peso-dollar exchange rate continues its current trend. In some cases, prices have doubled since last February, claimed Rodriguez.