FDA lists 15 more drugs as VAT-free

MANILA, Philippines — The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has added 15 more drugs to the list of essential medicines exempted from value-added tax (VAT), making these products more affordable.

Under FDA Advisory No. 2024-1063, signed by its director general, Samuel Zacate, the regulatory body endorsed to the Bureau of Internal Revenue to make seven drugs for cancer, five drugs for hypertension, two drugs for mental illness and one drug for high cholesterol exempted from the 12-percent VAT.

For cancer medicines, these are avelumab (200 mg/10 mL); acalabrutinib (100 mg); olaparib (100 mg and 150 mg); trastuzumab (150 mg and 440 mg); and trastuzumab deruxtecan (100 mg).

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