FDA Removes Hypertension Medication from VAT-Exempt List, Adds 69 New Health Products
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has made significant updates to the list of health products exempt from Value-Added Tax (VAT), removing one hypertension medication while adding dozens of new entries. This move aims to align with the government's ongoing efforts to enhance healthcare accessibility and affordability for Filipinos.
Delisting of Bosentan
In FDA Advisory 2026-0065, the drug Bosentan was officially deleted from the VAT-exempt list. The agency clarified that Bosentan, classified as an endothelin receptor antagonist (ERA), is specifically approved for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), which is distinct from systematic hypertension. This distinction led to its removal from the tax-exempt category for general hypertension treatments.
Expansion of VAT-Exempt Products
Conversely, the FDA has included 69 new health products in the VAT-exempt list, covering a wide range of medical conditions. These additions are part of a broader initiative to reduce healthcare costs and ensure that essential medicines remain affordable for the public.
Key Additions to the List
Cancer Medications: The list now includes several critical cancer drugs, such as Abiraterone, Cyclophosphamide, Cytarabine, Eribulin Mesylate, Ibrutinib, Imatinib, Lapatinib, Methotrexate, Paclitaxel, Sunitinib, Vincristine, and Vinorelbine. These additions are expected to provide financial relief to patients undergoing cancer therapy.
Diabetes Treatments: For diabetes management, the FDA has exempted Dapagliflozin, Enavogliflozin, Metformin, Tirzepatide, and combination drugs like Metformin hydrochloride + Gliclazide and Vildagliptin + Metformin from VAT.
Cholesterol and Hypertension Drugs: High cholesterol medicines such as Fenofibrate and Rosuvastatin + Ezetimibe have been included. For hypertension, the list now features Atorvastatin + Perindopril + Amlodipine, Cilnidipine, and Hydralazine hydrochloride.
Mental Health and Tuberculosis Medications: The agency also added medicines for mental illness, including Brexpiprazole, Escitalopram Oxalate, Sertraline, and Vortioxetine. Additionally, Delamanid, a treatment for tuberculosis, was listed to support infectious disease management.
Effective Date and Impact
The FDA emphasized that these updates to the VAT-exempt health products list will take effect immediately upon the publication of the advisory. This timely implementation is designed to quickly benefit patients by reducing out-of-pocket expenses for essential medications.
By refining the list to include more targeted treatments while removing those that do not meet specific criteria, the FDA aims to optimize healthcare resource allocation and ensure that tax exemptions directly support the most critical medical needs.
