ALL pharmacists should make full use of the offers made by the Government, via Budget 2021, to improve their lives and livelihoods.
Speaking to FocusM, Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society (MPS) president Amrahi Buang said pharmacists should take advantage of the tax reliefs offered to offset expenditures related to their businesses.
“Community pharmacists should also train young pharmacists, take financial aid to support current business or expand them to create jobs for the people,” he said.
Two days ago, Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz tabled Budget 2021 at the Dewan Rakyat, worth RM322.54 bil.
The expansive budget was an addition to the six stimulus packages worth over RM300 bil announced this year, aimed at reviving the economy and push assistance towards those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Budget 2021, Amrahi said it was natural for the Government to prioritise battling COVID-19 but added that emphasis should have also been given to the management of non-communicable diseases (NCD).
“Management of NCD is incredibly challenging in our country. The RM 1 billion allocation for COVID-19 is welcome but it’s hard to predict the future. It may be enough or otherwise.
“And the special allowance of RM 500 to 100,000 frontliners is not enough. The Government must also ensure that deserving individual get them,” he said.
Amrahi added the Government must ensure the fullest transparency and accountability when dealing with allocations given.
He went on to say that even the additional RM20 bil to existing RM45 bil COVID-19 fund should get a stamp of approval from the Parliament first.
“We must exercise transparency. Accountability is a must so the people will understand the issue,” he noted.
On the reduction on healthcare budget, Amrahi said it was a misunderstanding as Tengku Zafrul did not mention the change in the allocation format.
“The discrepancy is due to an increase in number of contract officers. So, it does not have a significant increase in the budget allocation to the Health Ministry,” he remarked.
However, Amrahi said the ministry, in general, did not receive enough funding for the last decade and it may be the case for the future as well.
On getting glove companies to contribute RM400 mil for COVID-19 efforts, Amrahi observed it was a corporate social responsibility effort and urged more companies to chip in as well.
As for the RM35 mil allocation for healthcare tourism, Amrahi said it would be challenging to get arrivals due to border control imposed by many nations.
“And a strict standard operating procedure must be followed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the country,” he said. – Nov 8, 2020
