KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry is ready to discuss reducing subsidies for sugar producers as part of efforts to control Malaysian's consumption of the subtance.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni told the Dewan Rakyat yesterday the ministry was ready to hold talks with the Economy and Finance Ministries.
Earlier, Muar member of parliament Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman suggested that subsidies for two sugar producers be removed, in line with Malaysia's effort to reduce sugar intake among Malaysians.
"We will discuss this with the Economy Ministry and the Finance Ministry. At the Health Ministry level, in our war on sugar, we need the full support of everyone in this chamber.
"Our war on sugar should be understood by the community and the provision of subsidies will be considered from time to time.
"It is not beneficial to provide subsidies when, at the same time, we need significant funds to treat diabetes," he said.
Lukanisman said according to the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases in Malaysia: The Case for Investment 2021 report, the government spent RM3.3 billion in 2021 to treat patients with metabolic diseases.
He said this was 7.3 per cent of the government's healthcare expenditure of RM45.3 billion.
Lukanisman said total direct and indirect economic burden resulting from metabolic diseases was RM27.7 billion during the period.
He said diabetes alone took up RM24.3 billion of this figure, stemming from productivity losses due to absenteeism, presenteeism and premature deaths.
"The issues of presenteeism and absenteeism often arise from diabetes-related complications, such as fatigue, blurred vision and increased risk of infections.
"These conditions lead to decreased productivity, as individuals with diabetes may struggle to focus or meet the demands of intensive work environments.
"Over time, frequent absenteeism and low work efficiency result in substantial economic losses for the nation, diminishing overall competitiveness, particularly as many productive workers are affected," he said in response to R. Yuneswaran (PN-Segamat).
Yuneswaran asked about the ministry's expenditure to treat patients with diabetes or health complications caused by high blood sugar levels.
Lukanisman said the report stated that the overall economic burden for four major non-communicable diseases — cardiovascular diseases, metabolic diseases (primarily diabetes), cancer and chronic respiratory diseases — stood at at RM64.2 billion.
Lukanisman said the government spent large sums to treat diabetes and the amount rose annually.
"This increase can be attributed to several factors, including a growing number of diabetes patients, infrastructure needs, laboratory testing, ongoing treatments such as medications, and long-term complications requiring specialised care like dialysis for kidney failure."