South Sudan Revenue Authority Sparks Controversy by Deploying Tax Staff Inside Juba Teaching Hospital
Juba Global News Network
The National Revenue Authority of South Sudan has announced the deployment of a permanent team of its staff inside Juba Teaching Hospital to collect taxes, in an unprecedented move that has sparked widespread debate over its legality and impact on free healthcare services.
According to the authority’s statement, the decision aims to enhance revenue collection from activities within the facility, without clear details on the scope or targeted entities. However, hospital officials expressed confusion, stressing that the services provided are entirely free and do not include taxable commercial activities.
For its part, the Revenue Authority has not provided further clarification on whether the collection applies to commercial shops or private pharmacies within the medical complex.
This step comes as part of the authority’s efforts to boost non-oil revenues, as recently announced by its new commissioner. However, it has also coincided with criticism over expanding tax policies without considering the country’s difficult economic conditions.
