MANILA, Philippines — Twelve medicines have been added to the list of essential health products exempted from value-added tax (VAT), according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
In Advisory 2024-1118, the FDA endorsed 12 more medicines that must be VAT-exempt, making these products more affordable.
For cancer, Denosumab 70 mg/mL solution for injection has been endorsed for VAT exemption.
For diabetes, Linagliptin 5 mg film-coated tablet and Sitagliptin (as phosphate monohydrate) + Metformin Hydrochloride 50mg/500mg and 1g/50mg film-coated tablets were included in the list.
For hypertension, Losartan Potassium + Amlodipine (as basilate) 100 mg/10mg film-coated tablet and Candesartan cliexetil 32 mg tablet are VAT-exempt.
For kidney diseases, Finerone 10mg and 20 mg film-coated tablets are VAT-exempt.
For mental illnesses, Desvenlafaxine (as succinate monohydrate) 100 mg controlled-release tablet, Lurasidone Hydrochloride 20 mg film-coated tablet and Quetiapine (as fumarate) 200 mg sustained-release tablet are VAT-exempt.
For tuberculosis, Bedaquiline (as fumarate) 100 mg tablet is also on the list.