
The Legislative Assembly approved, with 60 votes, an exemption from taxes and storage costs to allow the entry into the country of a shipment of medicines donated by the Korea Love Sharing Community organization, through the South Korean Chamber of Commerce in El Salvador. The measure seeks to expedite the importation of the medicines and ensure their timely incorporation into the public health system.
The provision exempts the shipment from Value Added Tax (VAT), Import Duties (DAI), and other charges related to the process of bringing the medicines into the country. It also eliminates storage costs that might be incurred while the import process is completed.
According to the legislation approved by the legislators, the exemption will reduce costs and avoid administrative delays that could affect the distribution of the donated medicines. This aims to ensure that the products reach the healthcare facilities where they will be used more quickly.

The shipment of medications, valued at approximately $2.8 million, will be delivered to the Ministry of Health to strengthen the supply of drugs in hospitals and health facilities within the public network.
The donation includes medications for the treatment of respiratory, gastrointestinal, metabolic, and diabetic diseases, benefiting both adult and pediatric patients. Authorities believe these supplies will contribute to strengthening the health system’s response capacity and improving care for thousands of salvadorans.

As part of the established control mechanisms, the General Directorate of Customs will oversee the distribution of the medications to ensure they reach the intended beneficiaries. A report on the delivery of the medications will also be prepared and submitted to the South Korean Chamber of Commerce as part of transparency and accountability measures.
With this approval, the Legislative Assembly seeks to facilitate the use of the international donation and strengthen access to medications within the public health network by eliminating taxes and costs associated with importing the products.
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