MANILA, Philippines, Aug. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Filipino travelers shopping abroad can now receive eligible tax refunds in minutes through their GCash wallets. Powered by Alipay+ and its global tax refund partner Global Blue, the new Digital Tax Refund feature enables outbound Filipino travelers to receive tax refunds instantly and directly in Philippine Peso (PHP) through the GCash app.
The service will initially be available across 16 countries, namely Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Argentina, Austria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Latvia, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, and Switzerland, with more countries to be added soon.
Traditionally, travelers claiming tax refunds overseas choose between receiving cash in foreign currency, which may be difficult to use after returning home, or waiting one to four weeks, or even longer, for refunds to be credited to their bank accounts or credit cards. Currency conversion fees and exchange rate fluctuations can further reduce the value of the refund.
Using the service is designed to fit seamlessly into the existing airport tax refund process. After presenting the required travel and shopping documents to customs for validation, travelers can open the Tax Refund feature in the GCash app, accept the one-time Terms and Conditions, and generate a personal QR code. Once scanned by the airport tax refund counter representative, the refund is instantly converted to Philippine pesos and credited directly to the user's GCash wallet, accompanied by a real-time confirmation notification.
"Through Digital Tax Refund, we are giving Filipino travelers a faster and more convenient way to receive the money they are entitled to, directly in Philippine pesos through the GCash app they already use every day," said Carlos Bauza, Vice President for International Payments of GCash International.
The Digital Tax Refund feature reflects the continued evolution of digital financial services in making cross-border transactions more convenient for Filipinos. Through solutions that simplify international travel, digital platforms can help travelers save time, maximize the value of their purchases, and enjoy more seamless financial experiences wherever they go across the 16 available countries.
For more information, visit https://help.gcash.com/hc/en-us/articles/51318766615193-How-to-claim-a-Digital-Tax-Refund
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GCash enables users to get instant digital tax refunds across 16 countries
ICORE launched; nine companies joined as founding members
HANGZHOU, China, Aug. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- On August 18, the International Society of Organoid Research (ISoOR) held its 2026 Organoid Clinical Transformation Summit in Hangzhou. Under the theme "From Biological Models to Credible Evidence — Standardization and Clinical Practice of Organoids," the event brought together leaders from academia, clinical medicine, industry and investment to advance standardization and high-quality development across the organoid field.
As organoids move into drug discovery, precision medicine and clinical translation, the field is shifting from model construction to evidence generation. Stability, reproducibility and methodologically validated data are becoming essential for broader adoption. China's recent inclusion of tumour organoid culture and drug-sensitivity testing in its national medical-service pricing framework provides further policy support for standardized clinical use.
ISoOR Chairman Prof. Peter E. Lobie opened the summit with a welcoming speech. Forum speakers then shared latest advances and trends in tumor organoid drug-sensitivity testing, thyroid and ophthalmic applications, drug development, automation, and internationally aligned biobanking standards.
Prof. Wu Lijuan from PLA Western Theater Command General Hospital emphasized that consistent standards are essential for the broader adoption of organoid technology in precision oncology and, ultimately, for translating its clinical potential into benefits for more patients.
Prof. Shen Chongyang from Chengdu University of TCM discussed recent international policy developments concerning New Approach Methodologies (NAMs). He predicted that, if current progress continues, the first jointly validated NAMs that could be applied in specific contexts without the need for repeated validation may emerge around 2028.
A cross-sector roundtable moderated by Dr. Zhou Yi of AimingMed explored how research institutions, clinicians, industry and investors can work together to move organoids from scientific validation to clinical and commercial value.
The summit also marked the launch of International Center for Organoid Research and Enterprise (ICORE). Initiated by ISoOR, ICORE will support research, technical validation, clinical translation, international collaboration and industry incubation. Nine companies joined ICORE as its founding members. Drawing on its expertise in organoid standardization and clinical translation, AimingMed will contribute to ICORE's joint research and translational initiatives.
About ISoOR
The International Society of Organoid Research brings together academic, clinical and industry resources to advance organoid standards, innovation and application.
About AimingMed
AimingMed is a medical technology company integrating organoid R&D, production, research services and clinical testing. Its portfolio includes the MasterAim® organoid culture system, OSCAR-AI automation platform and organoid biobanks.
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ISoOR 2026 Organoid Clinical Transformation Summit convened in Hangzhou
