Tax collection is Bs 107 million ($15.37 mn) less than last year. To date, Bs 200 million ($28.7 mn) of the Bs 690 million ($100 mn) expected to be collected by the end of the year has been received, which is only 30%.
The pharmaceutical market in the country moves approximately $100 million per year, taking into account transactions with pharmacies, state and private institutions, hospitals and clinics. Public spending on drugs is $41.21 million, and total pharmaceutical expenditure is $169.6 million. Private consumption on medicines amounts to 128.8 million, compared to overall health spending of $728.23 million. It means that 41% of the total health expenditure is for drugs. The Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry stresses that the sector is characterized by giving stability to the nearly six thousand workers and labourers who are currently performing their duties.
The World Bank’s projections for Bolivia for both 2020 and 2021 are not very optimistic. For this year, the international organization foresees a fall in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of -5.9% and a slight recovery of the economy with only 2.2% for next year.
The Government hopes that the Legislative Assembly will approve two laws to conclude the procedures on loans of more than $ 577 million from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB). It assures that there will be other international financing requirements, thus avoiding the collection of more taxes from the people.
Gas sales to Argentina reached their maximum volume of 18 million cubic metres per day (MMm3d) in the first three days of June, as contemplated in the 4th addendum signed in February 2019. In May shipments maintained an average volume of 16 MMm3d.
The government informed on Tuesday that the reduction of the Ministries of Communication, Culture, and Sports would allow savings of Bs 126.5 million ($18.17 mn) and affirmed that it is a measure of austerity and decrease in spending.
