The government has expanded its list of medicines that are exempted from value-added tax to include 59 drugs for cancer, diabetes, and hypertension, among other diseases.
“We have exempted from VAT a total of 59 medicines for cancer, hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, mental illness, tuberculosis, and kidney disease. This is a welcome addition to the list of VA-exempt products,” said Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr.
Lumagui’s Revenue Memorandum Circular 72-2023 updated the list of VAT-exempt products under Republic Act 10963 or the TRAIN Law and Republic Act No. 11534 or the CREATE Act.
Of the 59 drugs added to the list, 25 were for the treatment of cancer, 11 for kidney diseases, 10 for diabetes, six for hypertension, four for mental illnesses, two for high cholesterol, and one for tuberculosis.
The FDA, however, removed from the list of VAT-exempt drugs the cancer medicine with the generic name Ixekizumab.
“Upon the evaluation of the certificate of product registration and package insert of [Ixekizumab], it was noted that it is approved as a treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults who are candidates for systemic therapy,” the FDA said.
In an interview with the Philippine Information Agency, Sylvia Gonzaga, a 60-year-old sari-sari store operator in Caloocan City who has been living with hypertension for over 20 years now, welcomed the expanded list of VAT-exempt medicines.
She said it will help her “save around P500 per month on her medication.”
“This is a big help for me, especially since I am a senior citizen relying only on my small pension and a little income from my sari-sari store,” Gonzaga said.
Susan De Leon, a senior information officer, said the discount will be a huge relief as she spends close to P10,000 a month for her daily medicines.
“That’s favorable for senior citizens and even ordinary citizens because medicine is expensive. When you are a senior citizen and a PWD, you can save a lot because on top of the 20 percent discount, there is even less cost for maintenance medicines,” said De Leon.
The cancer medicines included in the VAT exemption are Amivantamab (350mg) concentrate for solution for intravenous (IV) infusion; Anagrelide (500mcg) tablet; Atezolizumab (60mg/1200mg) concentrate for solution for IV infusion; Bendamustine Hydrochloride (45mg) concentrate for solution for IV infusion; Bleomycin (15 units) powder for solution for IV infusion; Bortezomib (2.5mg) powder for injection; Carfilzomib (60mg) lyophilized powder for solution for injection; Dasatinib (140mg) film-coated tablet; Docetaxel (different dosage) solution for injection; Doxorubicin Hydrochloride (2mg) solution for injection; Epirubicin (50mg) powder for injection; Etoposide (20mg) solution for IV injection; Everolimus (2.5mg) tablet; Ixazomib (3mg) capsule; Irinotecan Hydrochloride (20mg) concentrate solution for IV infusion; Lapatinib (250mg) film-coated tablet; Oxaliplatin (2mg) concentrate solution for IV infusion; Paclitaxel (6mg) concentrate for IV infusion; Pemetrexed (500mg) powder for IV infusion; Ruxolitinib (15mg/20mg) tablet; Trastuzumab (420mg) powder for concentrate for IV infusion; Triptorelin (22.5mg) powder for IV injection; and, Vinorelbine (10mg) solution for IV infusion.
For hypertension: Amlodipine (5mg) tablet, Irbesartan (150mg) tablet, Losartan (100mg) tablet, Macitentan (10mg) tablet, and Nebivolol (2.5mg) tablet.
For high cholesterol: Fenofibrate (160mg) micronized capsule, and Inclisiran (284mg) solution for injection.
For diabetes: Dapagliflozin + Metformin Hydrochloride (10mg) film-coated tablet; Evogliptin (5mg) film-coated tablet; Gliclazide (80mg) film-coated tablet; Insulin Glargine (100IU) solution for injection; Glibenclamide (500mg) tablet; Sitagliptin (50mg) film-coated tablet; and Vildagliptin (50mg) film-coated tablet.
For mental illness: Agomelatine (25mg) film-coated tablet; Aripiprazole (5mg) film-coated tablet; Midazolam (5mg/mL) solution for injection; and Venlafaxine (150mg) sustained release tablet.
The medicine for tuberculosis exempted from VAT is Bedaquiline (20mg) tablet.
For kidney disease, the exemption applies to several dosage of Alpha Ketoanalogues + Essential Amino Acids in film-coated tablet; Epoetin Alfa (2,000 IU) solution for injection; Everolimus (2.5mg) tablet; Mycophenolate Mofetil (250mg) capsule; Peritoneal Dialysis Solution Low Calcium with 1.5 % Dextrose; Peritoneal Dialysis Solution Low Calcium with 4.25% Dextrose; Peritoneal Dialysis Solution with 2.3% Dextrose; Potassium Citrate (1.08g) extended-release tablet; Sevelamer (800mg) film-coated tablet; and Spherical Carbon Adsorbent (500mg) tablet.