Gatchalian to drugstores: Make VAT-free medicines readily available

MANILA, Philippines — Drugstores and retailers were urged on Wednesday to make certain that medicines exempted from value-added tax (VAT) are readily available to Filipinos.

This appeal was made by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, saying this is in line with the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises or CREATE Act.

His appeal came after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) endorsed to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) 17 more medicines exempted from the 12-percent VAT.

READ: FDA exempts 17 more medicines from VAT

According to Gatchalian, eight of these medicines are for diabetes, four are for the treatment of cancer, and three for mental illness.

“I am delighted to hear that the list has been expanded as this would also increase the number of consumers who would benefit from the VAT-free provision of CREATE,” said Gatchalian, a co-author of the law and chair of the Senate panel on ways and means in a statement.

Gatchalian emphasized that since many Filipinos are still reeling from the high prices of prime commodities, it is important for the government to provide support for those who are suffering from common illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension.