'GST will not impact healthcare costs'

Healthcare costs will not be impacted when the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is implemented in 2015, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam (pic) said.

This was because healthcare was generally GST-exempted and as such, he urged all quarters not to make speculation on this to avoid confusing the people.

Towards this end, he said the ministry would be carrying out an in-depth study on the GST structure and issue a detailed list of services and health products that are exempted from the GST for public consumption.

"Generally, healthcare is GST-exempt but because the industry is so wide, it has to be studied in minute detail to list out which services and products are exempt," he told reporters at his Deepavali open house in Ujong Pasir here Saturday night.

Malacca chief minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron and senator Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, who is the state's former CM, were among the 2,000-odd guests at the open house.

When tabling the 2014 Budget in the Dewan Rakyat on Oct 25, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had announced that GST at a rate of six percent would be implemented in the country from April 1, 2015.

Touching on the celebration, Dr Subramaniam said Malaysian Indians could look forward to a brighter future ahead under Najib's leadership as the PM honestly cared about the welfare of the community.

On the community's part, he said they should capitalise on the opportunities provided in education, skills training and business to move further forward.