Policy For Mandatory Drug Price Displays Not Yet Finalised Says Mma

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The Malaysian Medical Association says the government has yet to gazette the policy.It was reported on April 18 that the draft order to enforce mandatory price displays for private healthcare facilities from May 1 was still with the Attorney-General’s Chambers. (Freepik pic)PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) claims that a policy mandating the display of medicine prices at general practitioner (GP) clinics, scheduled to take effect tomorrow, has yet to be finalised
MMA president Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira said the government had not officially gazetted the policy despite the distribution of pamphlets containing frequently asked questions during an advocacy session in February.
In a statement, he said these had no legal weight to compel clinics to enforce the policy.
“A policy on price displays can only be enforced once the gazettement process is complete and the official content is published,” he said, adding that details of how the policy would be implemented had not been communicated, either.
On April 18, domestic trade and cost of living minister Armizan Mohd Ali said the draft order to enforce mandatory price displays for private healthcare facilities from May 1 was still with the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
The Federation of Private Medical Practitioners’ Associations Malaysia previously questioned the rationale for allowing the ministry to enforce price display rules at GP clinics, saying these were typically regulated by the health ministry.
Kalwinder said MMA was also concerned about the enforcement of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 within the healthcare sector.
He claimed there had been no engagement sessions between the health ministry and MMA or other stakeholders, and that the association had yet to receive a response or secure a meeting with health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad and Armizan, despite earlier requests.
“Any attempt to enforce this policy starting May 1, without engagement or a clear timeline for gazettement, would not only be unreasonable but also unjust,” he said.
He urged GPs and medical practitioners not to succumb to pressure to display medicine prices until the policy is officially gazetted, and to stand united in dealing with the matter. - FMT

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