A health think tank has called on the government to rationalise the subsidies for sugar manufacturers in the upcoming budget, and use the funds to raise allowances for medical officers.
In a statement, Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy CEO Azrul Khalib said the federal government had allocated some RM500 million to sugar manufacturers as subsidies or incentives, which translated to RM1 per kg for raw and refined sugar.
Removing or rationalising these subsidies would free up at least RM500 million without burdening the overall budget, he said.
“There is more than enough to provide the RM80 million needed to raise allowances,” he said, referring to the amount the government would have to bear if it increased on-call allowances.
“Every ringgit redirected from subsidising…