On Monday, the Legislative Assembly approved in the second reading a legal reform that will reduce resources for the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS) programs to fight cancer.
The initiative -which had 41 votes in favor and seven against- is a modification to article 29 of the General Law on Tobacco Control and its Harmful Effects on Health to change the destination of the resources that come from the tobacco tax.
This legislation established a tribute of ¢20 to each cigarette. The resources collected are distributed as follows:
-60% to the CCSS for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases associated with smoking and the strengthening of the National Oncology Network.
-20% to the Ministry of Health.
-10% to the Institute on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (IAFA).
-10% to the Costa Rican Institute of Sports and Recreation (Icoder).
With the reform, the Fund will only receive 55% and the IAFA only 5%. But the resources to Icoder would be raised to 20%.
The 5% that will be taken from the CCSS is equivalent to ¢1.2 billion per year.