KUALA LUMPUR: The cost of treating e-cigarette or Vaping Product Use-Associated Lung Injury (Evali) cases is higher than the revenue collected from excise duty from smoking products, says the Health Ministry.
Just in the span of 11 months since the enforcement of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act, on Oct 1, 2024, and September this year, the ministry saw six cases of serious lung complications identified as Evali.
“Overall, from 2019 to September 2025, the Health Ministry has recorded 46 cases of Evali,” the ministry said in a parliamentary written reply on Nov 5.
According to data from the Finance Ministry, excise duty on nicotine-containing liquid or gel used in electronic cigarettes or vape products has been imposed since Apr 1 2023, at a rate of 40 sen per millilitre.
“The total revenue collected from April 2023 to August 2025 amounted to RM209.5 mil.
However, this figure is lower than the estimated cost of treating Evali patients, which amounted to RM223.5mil in 2024, with an average treatment cost per patient of RM150,892.11 and an average hospital stay of 12 days,” it said.
“The Health Ministry will continue to monitor the health effects of vape use on public health and strengthen control measures through the implementation of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852),” it added.
The ministry was responding to a question from Datuk Dr Alias Razak (PN-Kuala Nerus) on the number of Evali cases since the enforcement of Act 852 and the total revenue collected from nicotine tax between April 2023 and September 2025.
