MANILA — The government has exempted more cancer, diabetes, and mental health medicines from value-added tax (VAT), days after the signing of the CREATE MORE Act.

In an advisory, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) endorsed the VAT exemption for 10 additional medicines, which would benefit millions of Filipinos suffering from these health conditions.

The following medications are now exempt from VAT.

CANCER

Degarelix 

Tremelimumab 

DIABETES

Sitagliptin 

Linagliptin 

MENTAL ILLNESS

Clomipramine Hydrochloride

Chlorpromazine (as hydrochloride)

Midazolam

The regulatory agency said it was directed by the CREATE MORE law — which seeks to clarify the rules on VAT, among others — to identify and transmit VAT-exempt health products to other agencies such as the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Bureau of Customs, and the Department of Trade and Industry.

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The VAT exemption of the medicines is effective upon the issuance of the FDA advisory, which was dated November 22 and publicized Tuesday, November 26.

The BIR in January this year exempted 21 medicines for cancer, diabetes, and hypertension from VAT. By August, more cancer and high cholesterol medications were excluded from VAT.

Cancer, diabetes, and hypertension are some of the leading causes of death in the Philippines, where the cost of medicines is often prohibitive for the poor.

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