Malaysia's healthcare system is projected to face costs of up to US$82 million annually by 2030 due to lung injuries associated with vaping. Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad reported that there have been 41 cases of Evali (e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury) since 2019, with treatment costs averaging 150,000 ringgit (approximately US$33,482) per patient [44e8af35].
The vape industry's retail value has seen significant growth, increasing by 53% from 2019 to 2023, rising from 2.27 billion ringgit to 3.48 billion ringgit (equivalent to US$510 million to US$780 million) [44e8af35]. This surge in the vaping market comes despite the government's efforts to curb smoking and vaping among youth. In April 2023, the government exempted nicotine-laced vapes from the Poisons Act, which has raised concerns about the effectiveness of anti-smoking initiatives [44e8af35].
To address these issues, the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 was enacted to limit access to vaping products, particularly among young people. However, the Generational Endgame Bill, which aimed to ban tobacco and vaping sales to individuals born after January 1, 2007, was scrapped in November 2023 due to constitutional concerns [44e8af35].
As Malaysia grapples with the implications of its growing vaping industry, the balance between public health and market growth remains a critical issue. The rising healthcare costs associated with vaping-related injuries highlight the urgent need for effective legislation and public health strategies to mitigate the impact of vaping on the population [44e8af35].