KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 2 — The Health Ministry (MOH) has received RM21 million in sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) excise duties from for the procurement of Sodium-Glucose Transport Protein 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, which will benefit 49,128 patients, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
According to Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad, the excise duty collected from SSBs amounted to RM54.9 million from January to August this year, compared with RM68.6 million in 2024.
“We are prioritising SGLT2 inhibitors as they not only treat Type 2 diabetes mellitus but also help reduce complications from chronic kidney disease (CKD) and provide cardiovascular protection ... They lower the risk of hospitalisation from heart failure and death from cardiovascular disease, preserve kidney function by slowing CKD progression, and help control blood pressure and body weight,” he said.
Dzulkefly was answering a question from Wong Shu Qi (Harapan-Kluang) about excise duties collected from SSBs this year and the amount allocated to fund SGLT2 inhibitor procurement and expand the MOH’s peritoneal dialysis programme, as announced in Budget 2025.
Dzulkefly said the excise duty on SSBs came into force on July 1, 2019, at a rate of 40 sen per litre, based on the prescribed sugar content threshold.
He said the rate was increased to 50 sen per litre on January 1, 2024, and subsequently to 90 sen per litre on January 1 this year.
Regarding peritoneal dialysis treatment, Dzulkefly said the ministry had allocated RM40 million for the purpose this year, with 42 per cent of patients receiving it at MOH facilities, up from 36 per cent in 2020.
