Tax hike on medical equipment harms patients — syndicate

AMMAN — Increasing the tax imposed on medical supplies and equipment will add more burdens on patients, who will end up paying a higher price, a sector representative said on Tuesday.

Jihad Al Maani, chairman of the Association of Medical Traders, said the recent decision by the government to raise the tax on medical supplies will affect the fees of various medical procedures.

“Almost 90 per cent of medical supplies are affected by the recent tax increase,” Maani told The Jordan Times. He added that the items affected include pacemakers, breathing devices, syringes and blood bags.

According to Maani, the hike in prices of medical operations would also affect Jordan’s competitiveness as a medical tourism destination. The tax on medical supplies was 4 per cent before being increased to 16 per cent, he added.