More medicines may be zero-rated under GST

The Finance Ministry is studying a proposal by the Health Ministry to lengthen the list of medicines that are zero-rated under the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Finance Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak (pic) said all 4,215 items under the National Essential Medicines (NEM) list had already been zero-rated, covering treatment for 30 types of diseases.

“This covers the common diseases among Malaysians, such as heart attacks, diabetes and high blood pressure.

“Medications for terminal illnesses like cancer and HIV are not categorised under the NEM list, but the ministry is considering a proposal to include these medications in the zero rated GST list,” he said in a written reply to Charles Santiago (DAP-Klang).
Santiago had asked if the ministry was planning to allow for GST exemption on medication for serious illnesses like cancer and HIV.