HEALTH organisations will tell a scrutiny panel tomorrow that a sales tax on healthcare amounts to taxing people for being ill.

Family Nursing and Home Care, the Jersey Medical Society, the Jersey Dental Association and the Jersey Cheshire Home all oppose the 3% tax on healthcare and supplies.

The Council of Ministers want to impose a 3% charge with as few exceptions as possible, and say that lost revenue and added costs caused by exceptions, exemptions and zero-rating certain goods and services could mean that the charge would have to go up.

At the moment it is expected that rents, mortgages and financial services would be among the few items zero-rated.

Health Minister Stuart Syvret, who has lodged an amendment to exclude basic items like food, health supplies, education and newspapers from the tax, and Consumer Council chairman Deputy Alan Breckon, who wants to see energy and fuel costs exempted as well, will also give evidence to the Corporate Services scrutiny panel.

Corporate Services, chaired by Deputy Patrick Ryan, is reviewing possible exclusions from the 3% goods and services tax.