Manila: Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has urged the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expand the list of value-added tax (VAT)-exempt medicines. He emphasized that this initiative would alleviate the financial burden on patients.

According to Philippines News Agency, Gatchalian made this appeal after the recent inclusion of 19 more medicines in the VAT exemption list. He welcomed this development as a significant step in making essential treatments more accessible and affordable for the public.

Gatchalian stated, "This move is a clear win for ordinary Filipinos, as it directly translates to reduced costs for essential medications, bringing much-needed financial relief and improving access to vital treatments." The expanded list is part of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law, which aims to remove VAT from medicines used to treat major chronic and critical illnesses.

The VAT-free medicines now include treatments for conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, cancer, high cholesterol, mental illness, tuberculosis, and kidney diseases. Gatchalian emphasized that no Filipino should be denied the opportunity to maintain their health due to high medication costs.