PETALING JAYA, March 27 — Consumer associations lauded the move to expand the list of zero-rated medicines under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) to 4,215 medicines, but said more should be included.

Malaysian Consumer and Family Economics Association vice-president Prof Madya Dr Ahmad Hariza Hashim said all medicines should be exempted from GST.

“Medicine is a necessity for all, no matter what your income level. It should all be exempted,” he said.

Hariza suggested supplements be considered for tax exemption as it is a necessity for families with children.

“People of lower income groups with children would be deprived of supplements for growth. Supplements should ideally be exempted as well,” he said.

Consumers Association of Klang president Devdass Anjan echoed Hariza’s sentiments to call for exemptions on all healthcare products.

“Having good health is a basic necessity, and even vitamins and supplements should not be affected by the GST,” he said.

“What about health-related products like adult diapers and dialysis fluids—shouldn’t these be included, too?”

Devdass said consumers should also be provided with clearer information on GST and the medicines involved.

“The layman is not going to know drug brands, so how will they know if something is GST-exempt or not?” he asked.

“Unless there is stringent enforcement, the average consumer may be taken for a ride.”

Malaysian Consumers Association secretary-general Datuk Amarjit Singh Gill said an exemption on all medicines was not practical but hoped the expanded zero-rated list would include previously unlisted essential medicines.

“In the previous list it only included certain antibiotics. Hopefully the new list would include more essential medicines,” he said.

However, he said the number of medicines with GST far outnumbered those that were zero-rated.

“In a research discussion, the zero-rated list only filled three pages, while those affected by GST filled 11 pages,” he said.

“It is good the government is listening to the public’s suggestions to expand the list. But not much can be said until we see the list when it is announced.”

Perak Consumers Association president Abdul Rahman Said Alli said he was confused by all the GST-related chatter.

“Everyone is saying different things about what’s going to happen, and none of it makes much sense to ordinary people like us,” he said.

“We just have to wait and see how things pan out after April 1.”

Customs GST division senior assistant director ll Norazura Hashim yesterday told reporters that an additional 1,315 medicines had been included in the zero-rated supplies list, expanding it from a list of 2,900.