MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) lauded on Thursday President Rodrigo Duterte’s signing of Republic Act No. 11467 that increases the excise tax on alcoholic beverages, electronic cigarettes, and heated tobacco products (HTPs). “As medicines become cheaper, more Filipinos would be able to afford life-saving medicines without worrying about financial risk. DOH is vigorously monitoring and reviewing the prices of pharmaceutical products to ensure the most affordable medicines for our people,” said Duque. Taxing and regulating harmful products work both as a means to reduce consumption of harmful products, at the same time as a source of additional revenue for the implementation of the UHC Law,” he added.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer January 23, 2020 08:26 UTC