The Medical Association of Jamaica (MAJ) says it still views the imposition of general consumption tax (GCT) on group health insurance as a retrograde step despite Finance Minister Audley Shaw indicating that entities which pay the tax will be allowed to treat it as a deductible on their income tax returns.
President of the MAJ, Dr Myrton Smith told The Gleaner/Power 106 News Centre last night that the pronouncement by the finance minister has done little to quell the concerns of the association.
Smith says he is especially concerned about Government employees who benefit from private group health insurance.
He says the government is one of the largest purchasers of private group health insurance and the MAJ is watching to see whether it will pay the cost of the tax for its employees.
The MAJ had previously said it was worried that the tax will result in high levels of under insurance and force more persons towards the already overburdened public health system.
Smith says the MAJ will continue to monitor the issue.
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