Gatchalian urges drugstores, retailers to enact VAT removal of 22 medicines

FILE PHOTO: Last February 19, the FDA endorsed the inclusion of 14 drugs for cancer, four medications for hypertension, and four drugs for mental illness in the list of medicines exempt from the 12-percent VAT, in compliance with its Advisory No. 2024-0329. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has urged drugstores and other retailers of pharmaceuticals to quickly implement the exemption from value-added tax (VAT) of 22 medicines enforced by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to make them more accessible to consumers.

Last February 19, the FDA endorsed the inclusion of 14 drugs for cancer, four medications for hypertension, and four drugs for mental illness in the list of medicines exempt from the 12-percent VAT, in compliance with its Advisory No. 2024-0329.

READ: FDA okays VAT exemption of 22 more vital drugs

These drugs were added to the list of over 2,000 VAT-exempt drugs designed for the prevention and management of diabetes, hypertension, cancer, high cholesterol, mental illnesses, tuberculosis, kidney diseases, and medicine specifically used to prevent and treat COVID-19.

“Given the high prices of basic commodities, it is important that affordable medicines are made available to those who have existing medical conditions. Dapat itong maipatupad sa lalong madaling panahon para sa kapakinabangan ng ating mga mamamayan, lalo na ang mga may sakit,” Gatchalian said in a statement on Sunday.

Below is the list of medicines to be exempted from VAT:

For cancer

• Sonidegib (as phosphate) 200 milligram (mg) capsule
• Pemetrexed (as disodium heptahydrate) 100 mg powder
• Asciminib (as hydrochloride) in both 20 mg and 40 mg tablets
• Palbociclib in 75 mg, 100 mg, and 125 mg tablets
• Pemetrexed (as disodium hemipentahydrate) 100 mg powder for infusion and 10 mg/mL solution for injection
• Cabazitaxel 60 mg/1.5 mL concentrate for solution for injection
• Entrectinib 100 mg and 200 mg capsules

For hypertension

• Losartan Potassium+Amlodipine (as besilate) in 100 mg/10 mg and 100 mg/5 mg tablets
• Irbesartan+Amlodipine (as besilate) in 300 mg/5 mg and 300 mg/10 mg tablets

For mental illness

• Cariprazine (as hydrochloride) in 1.5 mg, 3 mg, 4.5 mg, and 6 mg capsules to be VAT-free

Aside from the swift implementation of the VAT exemption, Gatchalian also urged the public “to remain vigilant and ensure that they are paying the discounted rates for medicines listed.”