The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has released the updated full list of 2.263 VAT-exempt medicines endorsed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The implementation of tax exemption is in accordance with Republic Act No. 10963 - TRAIN Law, and Republic Act No. 11534 - CREATE Act.

VAT-exempt medications include:

• 702 - cancer
• 535- hypertension
• 327 -  diabetes
• 300 - mental illness
• 171 - high cholesterol 
• 152 - kidney disease
• 76 - tuberculosis

According to BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin R. Mendoza, the move is part of the government's sustained efforts to reduce the cost of essential medicines for those suffering from chronic and critical illnesses.

“This issuance forms part of the government’s continuing efforts to help ease the cost of essential medicines, especially for Filipinos managing chronic and critical illnesses,” he said via online statement issued by the BIR