Rasha Abdel Aal, head of the Egyptian Tax Authority, announced draft changes to the Value Added Tax Law that aim to ease costs for healthcare providers and medical manufacturers. The proposals are currently under discussion in the House of Representatives.
The amendments include lowering the VAT rate on medical devices from 14 percent to 5 percent. This reduction is intended to cut operating and production expenses for equipment and supplies.
The draft law also exempts manufacturing inputs for dialysis machines, components, supplies, and kidney filters from VAT. Officials say the exemption will lower costs for businesses and improve access to treatment for patients.
Abdel Aal stated that the measures align with government efforts to back sectors with strong social and healthcare roles. She added that the changes seek to boost local medical production and attract more investment in the field.