The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has updated the list of value-added tax or VAT-exempt drugs for various critical conditions, such as hypertension, cancer, mental illnesses, tuberculosis, kidney diseases, diabetes, and high cholesterol.
Under Republic Act 11534, effective immediately upon the issuance of this advisory, the FDA has identified several medicines for VAT exemption, providing relief for patients grappling with these illnesses.
As of Monday, Feb. 19, the agency has listed several medicines for cancer treatment to be exempted from VAT including Sonidegib (as phosphate) 200 mg capsule, Pemetrexed (as disodium heptahydrate) 100mg Lyophilized Powder for IV Infusion, Asciminib (as hydrochloride) 20mg and 40mg Film-Coated Tablets, Palbociclib (75mg, 100mg, and 125mg) Film-Coated Tablets, Pemetrexed (as disodium hemipentahydrate) 100mg Powder for Concentrate for Solution for Infusion (I.V.), Pemetrexed (as disodium hemipentahydrate) 10mg/mL (500mg/50 mL) Solution for Injection (IV Infusion), Cabazitaxel 60mg/1.5 ml Concentrate for Solution for Injection (I.V.), and Entrectinib 100mg and 200mg Capsules.
Also, medicines for hypertension now included in the list to be exempted are film-coated tablets of Losartan Potassium + Amlodipine (as besilate) in 100 mg/10 mg and 100 mg/5 mg strengths, as well as Irbesartan + Amlodipine (as Besilate) in 300 mg/5 mg and 300 mg/10 mg strengths.
For mental illnesses, the list comprises medicine capsules of Cariprazine (as hydrochloride) in 1.5 mg, 3 mg, 4.5 mg, and 6 mg strengths.
The agency said that these updates aim to alleviate the financial burden on patients suffering from these severe health conditions, ensuring accessibility to essential medications without additional tax implications.
It highlighted that patients and healthcare professionals are advised to consult with their physicians and pharmacists for proper guidance and utilization of these VAT-exempt medicines.