The Health Ministry uses RM21 million from sugary drinks tax to procure SGLT2 inhibitors for 49,128 patients, enhancing diabetes and kidney care.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Health has allocated RM21 million from excise duty on sugar-sweetened beverages to procure Sodium-Glucose Transport Protein 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the funding will benefit 49,128 patients.
He told the Dewan Rakyat that excise duty collection from these beverages totalled RM54.9 million from January to August this year.
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This compares to RM68.6 million collected for the whole of 2024.
“We are prioritising SGLT2 inhibitors as they not only treat type 2 diabetes mellitus but also help reduce complications from chronic kidney disease and provide cardiovascular protection,” Dzulkefly said.
He explained the medication lowers hospitalisation risk from heart failure and death from cardiovascular disease.
It also preserves kidney function by slowing chronic kidney disease progression and helps control blood pressure and body weight.
The minister was responding to a question from Wong Shu Qi on the excise duty collection and its allocation for medicines and dialysis.
Dzulkefly said the excise duty on sugar-sweetened beverages began on July 1, 2019, at 40 sen per litre.
The rate was increased to 50 sen per litre on January 1, 2024, and subsequently to 90 sen per litre effective January 1 this year.
Regarding peritoneal dialysis treatment, he said the ministry allocated RM40 million for the purpose this year.
He noted that 42% of patients now receive this treatment at ministry facilities, up from 36% in 2020. – Bernama
