In a move to reduce consumption as well as the cost of treating diabetics, the government is reportedly considering imposing tax on sugary drinks, according to a report by theSun.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Hilimi Yahaya told the daily that the government spends a whopping RM9.38 billion every year to treat 3.5 million diabetic Malaysians.
“The government spends about RM2,680 a year treating a single diabetic patient, multiply that with 3.5 million and the figures is at billions,” Hilmi was quoted as saying.
The cost reportedly does not include amputation or other advanced treatment procedures.
The move to impose tax on sugary drinks, according Hilmi, is among the initiatives outlined in the National Food Action Plan 2016-2025.
“We will not increase tax for sugar as prices have already been raised from RM2.20/kg to RM2.85/kg when subsidy was removed.
“Instead, we are looking at taxing local and imported manufactured drinks that contain sugar,” he told theSun.
The latest National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2015 results, released earlier this month, revealed that 17.5 per cent of Malaysians aged 18 and above (3.5 million total) have diabetes.
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