Deputy Health Minister Lee Boon Chye says the matter will be discussed with the domestic trade and consumer affairs ministry.
PETALING JAYA: The health ministry yesterday said it would look into the possibility of a price control mechanism for medication.
“As medicines are not price-controlled, the price just keeps increasing every year,” its deputy minister Lee Boon Chye said.
“We will discuss this with the domestic trade and consumer affairs ministry for urgent attention, although there are many aspects and factors that need to be considered and scrutinised beforehand,” he told reporters after visiting the pharmacy services programme under the pharmaceutical services division of the health ministry.
Lee said the ever-increasing price of medication could affect the affordability of healthcare.
He added that his ministry was exploring measures to improve the supply of medication to public hospitals as well as in the market to prevent a shortage.
On the issue of contract holders in the supply of drugs, he said the ministry would take stern action if any wrongdoing was detected.
He also said the record-keeping system would be improved to ensure a sufficient supply of medication. -FMT
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