FY27: VAT on dialysis filter imports may be withdrawn
According to National Board of Revenue (NBR) sources, a proposal has been made to fully withdraw the existing 15% VAT and 5% advance income tax on the import of dialysis filters.
The government is set to propose value-added tax (VAT) exemptions on the import of dialysis filters in the budget for FY 27 to reduce treatment costs for kidney patients.
According to National Board of Revenue (NBR) sources, a proposal has been made to fully withdraw the existing 15% VAT and 5% advance income tax on the import of dialysis filters.
The matter will be formally announced in the proposed budget tomorrow (11 June).
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The 7.5% advance tax applicable at the import stage on Blood Tubing Set for Hemodialysis, used in the treatment of kidney patients, may also be fully exempted.
As a result, the cost of kidney dialysis is expected to fall significantly.
If the proposal is implemented, patients' expenses per dialysis session may fall by around Tk800 due to VAT, income tax and duty benefits, NBR sources said.
Doctors said around 3.8 crore people in the country suffer from some form of kidney disease, with 30,000 to 40,000 patients developing kidney failure every year and requiring dialysis or transplant.
A Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) study said 92% of families with kidney dialysis patients in Bangladesh face significant financial hardship in covering treatment costs.
