The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has announced an expanded list of medicines exempted from value-added tax (VAT), aiming to ease the financial burden of treatment for cancer, diabetes, and mental health conditions.
According to an ABS-CBN News report, among the newly VAT-free cancer medicines are Degarelix and Tremelimumab. Diabetes treatments Sitagliptin and Linagliptin are also now exempted, along with mental health medications such as Clomipramine Hydrochloride, Chlorpromazine, and Midazolam.
Earlier this year, the BIR exempted 21 medicines in January, 20 more in March, and another 15 in August, covering treatments for cancer, diabetes, and hypertension.
The move comes as cancer and diabetes remain leading causes of death in the Philippines, where the high cost of medicine poses a challenge for low-income families.
