Under the latest BIR Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 87-2026, VAT exemptions now cover 708 medicines for cancer, 537 for hypertension, 331 for diabetes, 300 for mental illness, 172 for high cholesterol, 152 for kidney disease and 77 for tuberculosis.
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More Filipinos battling chronic and life-threatening illnesses can now access cheaper medicines as the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) expanded its list of VAT-exempt drugs to 2,277, covering treatments for cancer, hypertension, diabetes, mental illness, high cholesterol, kidney disease and tuberculosis.
The updated list includes 14 newly added medicines endorsed by the Food and Drug Administration, aimed at reducing out-of-pocket healthcare expenses for patients undergoing long-term treatment.
Under the latest BIR Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 87-2026, VAT exemptions now cover 708 medicines for cancer, 537 for hypertension, 331 for diabetes, 300 for mental illness, 172 for high cholesterol, 152 for kidney disease, and 77 for tuberculosis.
Making essential healthcare more affordable
BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin R. Mendoza said the expanded exemption supports efforts to make essential healthcare more affordable for Filipino families.
“By expanding the list of VAT-exempt medicines, we are helping make essential healthcare more affordable while supporting the President’s vision of a healthier and more resilient Philippines,” Mendoza said.
