Mma Still Waiting To Meet Dzul On Drug Price Display Rule

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 The Malaysian Medical Association reiterates support for price transparency but says it should be implemented under medical-specific laws.
Health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad previously said he would meet eight doctors’ groups who are against the mandatory display of medicine prices under a non-medical-specific law. (Freepik pic)PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) says it is still waiting for health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad to set a date for a meeting on the mandatory display of drug prices, effective May 1
MMA president Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira said Dzulkefly had stated he would meet the association and other medical bodies after eight of these groups issued a joint statement on the issue on April 7.
“However, we have yet to be informed of the date of the meeting.
“MMA has also written to the domestic trade and cost of living minister (Armizan Mohd Ali) to engage on the matter and we are still awaiting a reply to our request for a meeting,” he said in a statement.
Kalwinder reiterated that MMA supported ensuring drug price transparency but maintained it should be implemented under medical-specific laws.
Eight doctors’ associations, including MMA, had said the mandatory display of medicine prices should be implemented under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 (Act 586) rather than the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 (Act 723).
They said the use of Act 723 was overreaching and that Act 586 provided the health minister with the authority to introduce new rules under the law if deemed necessary to enhance the rights of patients.
The groups also said patients always had the right to know the price of medicines and could request for a prescription to obtain their drugs elsewhere if they feel the prices charged at a clinic were high. - FMT

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