NBR Cuts Advance Tax on Cancer Drug Materials to 2%

Industry: Healthcare & Pharma, Pharma
Economic Tag: Vat & Tax

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has exempted the advance tax (AT) on the import of raw materials for cancer drug manufacturing, aiming to reduce production costs and drug prices. Previously, a 5% AT was imposed, but it has now been reduced to 2% or eliminated altogether. This move, based on recommendations from the health ministry, seeks to make cancer treatment more affordable. Bangladesh’s cancer prevalence is rising, with a rate of 106 cases per 100,000 people and cancer responsible for 11.9% of all deaths annually. The government encourages local production of oncology medicines, which may lower prices. The tax benefits are welcomed by manufacturers, as several pharmaceutical companies are producing cancer drugs for both domestic and export markets. A study by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University reports 52.9 new cancer cases per 100,000 people annually.

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