DOH pushes for VAT exempt cancer medications

MANILA, Philippines—After the removal of the value-added tax (VAT) on medicines for diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol, the Department of Health (DOH) said it is now working for the tax exemption of cancer medications.

DOH Undersecretary Eric Domingo announced this on Wednesday during a briefing in Malacañang, noting that the Health department has been receiving “strong clamor” for the exemption of cancer medicines.

“‘Yung TRAIN law limited lang talaga doon sa tatlo, anti-hypertensive, anti-diabetic and anti-cholesterol (medicines), pero ang strong clamor natin ngayon, which we are discussing with an inter-agency working group, ay ‘yung gamot para sa cancer,” Domingo said.

“We have very strong patient groups and mga NGOs (Non-government Organizations) na talagang working with us and tinitignan natin kung paano maisasama itong cancer medicines (sa VAT exemptions),” he added.

The tax exemption of medicines for diabetes, high cholesterol and hypertension started this year due to a provision of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law.

The TRAIN law has allowed the government to collect more taxes from other products and services and finance more programs for health, education, and social assistance for indigent citizens.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed the TRAIN law on December 19, 2017. /muf

READ: VAT-free diabetes, hypertension meds starting 2019 — DOF