New Delhi: In a striking irony, China has slapped a 13% VAT on birth control pills and condoms from January 1, ending long-standing tax exemptions as the nation battles a shrinking population.
Once enforcing strict one-child limits, Beijing now seeks to boost birth rates under President Xi Jinping, even as young couples show little enthusiasm for larger families.
Meanwhile, contraceptives have morphed into outright luxuries in some corners of the world. Venezuela tops the list, where economic turmoil and hyperinflation render a pack of condoms prohibitively expensive — often costing up to 60,000 bolivars, devouring half a monthly salary. With abortion strictly banned and carrying harsh penalties, many resort to these costly barriers to evade legal troubles or unplanned pregnancies.
High taxes, steep import duties, and fragile supply chains further inflate prices across several African and Latin American countries, turning essentials into unaffordables. In sharp contrast, Europe and the United States prioritise public health, ensuring easy and affordable access.
Globally, awareness of safe sex is driving the condom market from $8.38 billion in 2022 to a projected $13.06 billion by 2030. Yet, in regions like Venezuela, these products symbolise survival amid a crisis — bought dearly to sidestep jail — whereas elsewhere, governments distribute them freely to curb HIV and unwanted births.
This glaring divide underscores how economic woes and policy shifts can transform everyday health safeguards into symbols of privilege or desperation.
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