A Discriminatory Policy Framework
摘要
People with albinism are more vulnerable to skin cancer due to their lack of melanin to protect them from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. To reduce vulnerability, people with albinism require skin protective material such as sunscreen lotions, special skin cleansers, skin moisturizers, lip balms, and sunglasses with ultraviolet protection. In Zimbabwe, like most of Africa, most of the skin care materials are imported from other countries, where upon arrival they are itemized as luxury goods and are therefore subjected to heavy taxes. This is despite the existence of a health policy framework that exempts tax on essential drugs and medicines. Through an interpretivist analysis of limited primary sources and a review of existing policy documents, this chapter argues that the current policy framework on medical supplies’ tax exemption in Zimbabwe is discriminatory against people with albinism. Taxing skin protective material significantly increases the medical costs of people with albinism, far above what many can afford as they are largely low-income earners. Through a human rights-based policy analysis the chapter discusses how classifying sunscreen lotion as a cosmetic violates the right to health and entrenches the violation of substantive equality. The chapter unpacks how this policy is a reflection of the many discriminations endured by people with disabilities such as albinism in Africa and recommends reforms to ensure policy redress.