MoH to raise issue on review of GST implementation on health insurance

BANTING: The Ministry of Health (MoH) will raise the issue of reviewing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) implementation on health insurance (HI).
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr. S. Subramaniam said his decision to do so came in the wake of numerous appeals from the public.
"There is some justification, I think," he remarked, observing that individuals who took HI were reducing the burden of government health services by patronising the private health sector.
Subramaniam said that in his view, HI ought to be promoted and supported in that sense. Higher costs would have an adverse effect by increasing the expenditure for public health services.
However, Subramaniam cautioned this would be difficult for customers, as they might view the insurance industry as a whole, rather than view each sector differently.
"Nonetheless," he conceded, "from a health point of view, the request will be made," noting it was up to the Cabinet to decide.
Alongside this, Subramaniam has also requested that the Customs Department broaden their list of GST-exempt medication.
"Most medications used in normal treatments should be exempted," citing cancer medication and treatment as an example.
He stated that when the list was provided, it contained over seven thousand types of medicines. Stating that Customs is still reviewing the list and has yet to respond, Subramaniam reiterated that the exemption list ought to be widened.
Subramaniam was on an official working visit to Bangi Hospital to ascertain its needs, where he announced RM15 million would be allocated for the hospital for upgrading its basic facilities, as part of the 11th Malaysia Plan.