News:

With increasing concerns from the public over possible price increase of medicine after the implementation of GST (Goods and Services Tax) on the medicine and health services, The Ministry of Health of Malaysia has issued a statement guaranteeing that the relevant department will monitor the prices to ensure it will not burden patients who are in need of them.

The Deputy Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Hilmi Yahaya iterate that cost of medicine in private hospitals and clinics may see a hike between one and two percent when the new tax scheme on goods and services becomes active next year as planned. [Source: Berita Harian, 21th December 2014]

Comment:

As the date of GST implementation drawing near on 1st April 2015, the general public has raised a series of concerns on potential increase on cost of living. Medical cost is one of the areas receiving close attention due to increasing reliance on private hospitals and clinics by the public to seek medical treatment. The ministry is under pressure when questions are being raised on why essential items like medicine will be taxed while others that deem luxurious in nature such as lobster are not. With a majority of the population falling under the middle and low-income group, future increase in the cost of living will further stricken their already tight family budget.

Instead of coming up with a concrete plan and possible solution to improve and guarantee health services to the masses, the best that the ministry can offer is an assurance that they will monitor the prices of medical related goods and services. This is another example how a capitalist system bankrupt of ideas can be in destroying human lives. Health services is an essential need for any citizen in a state and their availability should be guaranteed by the state; far worse being taxed over it. A capitalist system only see medicine as another economic product that has economic value instead of a human being’s essential need.

We should realize sooner than later that the only solution for these kinds of issues is a system of life that address human need as a human problem to be solved. Not a system which views human need as an economic opportunity which can be bargained with. And with so many other issues at hand such as an outrageous cost of housing, education and the ever increasing price of basic household items, does your blind faith to the current capitalist based economic system should be trusted in guaranteeing the livelihood of you and your future generation.

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by

Yusuf Idris