GEORGE TOWN: The patients of various races who were waiting for their turn at a non-profit Chinese medicine facility here have different ailments but a common concern.
Besides wanting to get better, their worry now is that the affordable prices at this clinic will increase.
These patients, some of whom came from out of state, were seeking traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM), which would be subject to an 8% sales and service tax (SST) from March.
(Healthcare services using modern medicine are fully exempted from the SST.)
A check on the daily crowd of patients yesterday found that most patients were over 50 years old. Some of them were stroke victims, some were battling cancer, while others suffered problems like back pain and frozen shoulder.
“Take a look around you. Most of us are elderly and no longer employed,” said retired clerk Rohaya Omar, 65.
She said it did not seem right to impose additional charges on T&CM treatments.
“I would come here from the mainland whenever I have body aches.
“I even tried their cupping procedure for gastric (problems).
“This time, my hip is giving me trouble, so I come for acupuncture sessions,” she said.
Rohaya said patients like her were “seeking treatment for ailments, not leisure”.
“We would not be here if we did not need to,” she said.
From March, T&CM facilities, such as Chinese traditional medicine shops and services with an annual turnover of RM500,000, will have to pay an 8% SST.
In a Health Ministry circular recently, industry players were also told to settle the SST dating back to 2018, which was when the tax was revived to replace the now-abolished goods and services tax (GST).
Another patient at the facility yesterday was dim sum kitchen helper Tan Sew Khiang, 71, who travelled from Sungai Petani, Kedah, for his second round of acupuncture.
“My shoulder has been painful for quite a while and I can no longer sleep on my side,” said Sew Khiang, who was sent here by his son Tan Choon Chuang, 42.
Citing his own experience with T&CM, Choon Chuang said he had suffered spine problems two years ago but the pain eased after 10 acupuncture sessions.
“These treatments work and are easier on the pocket compared with modern medicine,” he said.
Choon Chuang felt that imposing SST on T&CM would affect people from the lower income group.
“Usually, people come here because it is cheap and effective, so I hope the price does not increase,” he said.
Taxi driver G. Nathan, 57, said he had been depending on T&CM since suffering a mild stroke two years ago.
“I have blood pressure and diabetes too,” he said.
Nathan said the clinic charges RM41 for consultation and acupuncture.
“The government should not charge tax for treatments like this. It is affordable, unlike most modern treatments,” he said.
Mini market owner Loh Keng Bin, 71, is a regular patient for over eight years after a stroke made it hard for him to walk.
“While I pay only RM41 and 8% tax on that amount will not be much, it is still money.
“We need to come many times for treatment and the tax will add up,” he said.
Traditional Chinese medicine practitioner Lak Pak Thye said the clinic offered treatments for cancer, body aches, gastric, stomach issues and other ailments.
“Most of them are stroke patients. We offer various treatments with different specialists.
“The charges are basic. It does not vary and it is fixed to make it easier for the people,” he said.
On Thursday, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said T&CM should be exempted from the tax, noting that such services are regulated by law and accepted by the Health Ministry and are even available in some government hospitals.
“T&CM treatments – which include traditional Chinese, Malay and ayurvedic medicine – should be given an SST exemption as what is provided for modern and veterinary medicine,” he said.
