KUALA LUMPUR: Experts say the government could save billions of ringgit on healthcare expenses for patients with smoking and vaping-related illnesses by implementing the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill.
They said the government would spend approximately RM8.77 billion by 2030 to treat the three major diseases and an additional RM369 million for complications caused by the use of electronic cigarettes and smoking.
In a joint statement, Universiti Putra Malaysia School of Business and Economics lecturers Associate Professor Dr Norashidah Mohamed Nor and Dr Chakrin Utit said it was estimated that for every RM1 collected in tobacco product taxes, RM4 is spent on treating those with complications and diseases, resulting in a RM3 deficit borne by the government.
"The implementation of the bill, dubbed the Generational Endgame (GEG) policy, is a necessary step, given that the prevalence of smoking among individuals aged 15 and above in 2019 was 21.3 per cent, equivalent to 4.9 million smokers.
"Research conducted by the Health Ministry shows that the use of electronic cigarettes among adolescents aged 13 to 17 has increased to 14.9 per cent in 2022, compared to 9.8 per cent in 2017," they said.
They said a 5.1 per cent increase within five years was deeply concerning.
"Without efforts to curb this situation, the issue of both cigarettes and vaping will not only affect individuals but also families, communities, and the nation as a whole," they stated, while emphasising the need to approve the policy to ensure Malaysia achieves a smoke-free nation by 2040.
Regarding the potential impact of the bill on illicit cigarettes and vapes, they noted that in the past, when the government raised excise taxes on cigarettes, it led to an increase in the problem of illicit cigarettes and vaping in Malaysia.
"Now, they claim that the illicit cigarette market will increase due to GEG.
"The issue of illicit cigarettes or vapes is an old one that the industry always exploits," they said.