SSB tax collected RM54.9mil. Revenue pays for SGLT2 diabetes medication & peritoneal dialysis for kidney failure
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia collected RM54.9 million in sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) excise duties between January and August this year, with the revenue channelled towards diabetes medication and peritoneal dialysis treatment, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the figure followed last year’s total collection of RM68.6 million, reflecting higher revenue after the excise duty rate was increased from 50 cents to 90 cents per litre which began from Jan 1 this year.
“A total of RM21 million was received from channelled SSB excise duty revenue to the Health Ministry for the procurement of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor medications.
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“This amount was distributed to all states in September 2025 and has benefitted 49,128 patients,” he said.
He was responding to Wong Shu Qi (PH–Kluang), who asked for the total SSB duty revenue collected this year along with allocations for SGLT2 inhibitor medications and the peritoneal dialysis programme, as announced under Budget 2025.
Dzulkefly said the excise duty mechanism was part of the government’s broader strategy to curb lifestyle-related diseases and ensure continued access to essential medications for chronic illnesses.
He added that the Health Ministry also allocated RM40 million this year for its peritoneal dialysis (PD) programme, which continues to see rising patient adoption.
“The percentage of patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis at the Health Ministry’s facilities in 2025 is 42%, an increase from 36.6% in 2020,” he said.
He highlighted the advantages of PD for end-stage renal disease patients.
“The main benefits of this treatment include the flexibility to perform it at home, allowing patients to continue their daily routines more freely without frequent visits to dialysis centres.
“It is also gentler as it mimics actual kidney function and does not require needles, making it easier for some patients,” he said.
Dzulkefly added that the PD expansion was aligned with the ministry’s ‘PD First’ policy, which designates peritoneal dialysis as the preferred initial treatment option for eligible kidney-failure patients.
