Dhaka, June 11 -- Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has proposed removing value-added tax (VAT) on the import of cardiac stents, dialysis filters, intraocular lenses and raw materials used in the production of cancer medicines.

The move aims to reduce the cost of essential medical devices and treatments, potentially making healthcare more affordable for low-income patients.

Placing the budget for the fiscal year 2026-27 in parliament on Thursday, he also suggested special tax rebates on some other medical items.

If the tax is waived as proposed, dialysis will get cheaper by Tk 800, each heart stent by nearly Tk 20,000 and each intraocular lens used in cataract surgery by about Tk 5,000, he said.

Before that he told the Hou...