HEALTH advocates and consumer groups have expressed strong support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s call to reduce sugar levels in food and drinks served at hospitals, describing the move as a necessary step amid growing public health concerns over diabetes and obesity.
The Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy chief executive Azrul Mohd Khalib said hospitals should not be places that normalise unhealthy eating habits, particularly given their role in treatment, recovery and health education.
“Mini markets and sundry shops in hospitals often sell some of the unhealthiest food options, including sugar-laden snacks, which contradict the purpose of healthcare facilities,” he told the New Straits Times.
Azrul said hospitals and clinics should set an example for the wider community by offering healthier food choices as part of a broader effort to promote sustainable lifestyle changes.
“Places meant for recovery and wellbeing must lead by example,” he said, adding that low-sugar and low-salt options should become the standard in healthcare settings.
Anwar had earlier urged the Health Ministry to ensure that food and beverages served in hospitals contain minimal sugar, and called for a sustained nationwide campaign to reduce sugar consumption in response to worsening public health indicators.
The Consumers’ Association of Penang also welcomed the Prime Minister’s remarks but cautioned that limiting the initiative to hospitals alone would not be sufficient to address the scale of the problem.
CAP president Mohideen Abdul Kader said excessive sugar intake not only damages individual health but also places a growing financial burden on the healthcare system and undermines national productivity.
“This effort should extend beyond hospitals to all institutions,” he said, calling for the removal of vending machines that sell sugary drinks and ultra-processed foods.
Mohideen added that CAP has long urged the authorities to ban the use of high fructose corn syrup, which he said is widely used as a low-cost substitute for refined sugar despite its adverse health effects.
“We have also called for an end to advertisements promoting high-sugar and other junk food and drinks, especially those targeting children and young consumers,” he said.
Health advocates say Anwar’s call could mark an important shift in public health policy, but stress that comprehensive regulatory action and sustained public education will be essential to reverse entrenched dietary habits nationwide. - January 25, 2026
