Ministry to hold more talks with MMA, others over medicine price display rule

 

Eight doctors’ associations yesterday voiced opposition to the government’s plan to use the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 to enforce mandatory medicine price displays. (Freepik pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

The health ministry will hold another round of discussions with the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) and other medical bodies after several groups again voiced objections to the proposed enforcement of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 (Act 723) on private healthcare facilities.

Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said he was only recently informed of the renewed pushback and that he was open to further dialogue, Bernama reported.

“I will again invite the MMA (and other associations) for further dialogue on matters related to the display of medicine prices,” he was quoted as saying after an event in Putrajaya today.

Yesterday, eight doctors’ associations, including MMA and the Federation of Private Medical Practitioners Associations Malaysia, voiced opposition to the government’s plan to use Act 723 to enforce the mandatory display of medicine prices.

The groups maintained that they were supportive of transparency regarding medicine prices, but said this should be implemented under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 (Act 586) instead.

Under the health ministry’s transparency push, private hospitals and clinics must begin displaying medicine prices starting May 1, following a postponement from an earlier unspecified date.

Dzulkefly said he was willing to meet them even though the health ministry had already held several rounds of targeted engagement with the MMA and the Organisation of Malaysian Muslim Doctors, during which it was agreed that the matter should fall under the Seventh Schedule of Act 586.

He also said the ministry was awaiting a final decision from the domestic trade and cost of living ministry and the finance ministry on a proposal to revise general practitioner consultation fees, a key concern tied to medical groups’ earlier support for the price display initiative.

“Now, we are just waiting for the right time before the official announcement (on the new consultation fees) is made. However, the final decision lies beyond our jurisdiction,” he said.

Separately, Dzulkefly said the health ministry would issue warning letters to any premises that failed to comply with the ban on displaying tobacco products at sales counters.

He said enforcement was being rolled out in phases and would continue until Oct 1.

The ban, which came into effect on April 1, involves over 51,000 shops, in line with Regulation 6 of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024. - FMT