GST exemption for controlled medicine will improve public healthcare - MMA

Chief cluster of Medical and Health Science, National Professors Council, Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Amin Jalaludin said exemption of Goods and Services Tax (GST) will benefit the low income group.

"Zero Goods and Services Tax (GST) for all medicine for non-communicable diseases can raise the level of healthcare of Malaysians," he told Bernama on Friday.

Malaysian Medical Association president Dr Ashok Philip said the move shows that the government is concerned about raising the quality of health services.

"Allocation for haemodialysis proves the government is serious about cost of living since the treatment is costly over the long term," he added.

When tabling Budget 2016 in parliament on Friday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced GST exemption for all medicine for non-communicable diseases and controlled medicine.