Medicine shortage shows reforms yet to happen, says think tank

Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye said the provision of medication at government hospitals was occasionally interrupted and this was due to problems in e-procurement. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: A think tank has voiced concern over a nationwide shortage of medicines at government hospitals following disclosure in the Dewan Negara that the health ministry is facing problems in ensuring adequate supplies.

It was a “distressing” revelation, said Azrul Mohd Khalib, CEO of the Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy.

However, he alleged that similar problems had been occurring nearly every year and said Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye’s statement in the Dewan Negara earlier this week indicated that “reforms in medicine and drug procurement” had yet to take place.

Lee told the Senate the provision of medication at government hospitals was occasionally interrupted and he said this was due to problems in e-procurement.

Azrul noted that Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad, in making one of his first official announcements, had promised to review the entire public healthcare procurement process.

“He declared his commitment to ensuring increased cost-effectiveness, improved efficiency and better transparency,” Azrul said, expressing hope for more “patient-centric solutions” as well.

“This recent shortage highlights the importance of having a third party review current practices. We repeat our recommendation for a health procurement ombudsman.”

He said the ombudsman should be mandated to review procurement practices and services and make recommendations for improvements so that the billions of ringgit spent every year on health services would be worthwhile.

“For the thousands of patients depending on timely availability of their medication, especially the B40 and elderly, the current situation must change,” he added.

B40 refers to people who earn less than RM40,000 a year.

Last month, Dzulkefly said the government was in the early stages of coming up with a proposal on implementing a mechanism to control the prices of drugs through existing laws. These laws include the Price Control Act and the Anti-Profiteering Act.

Dzulkefly said the move to set a ceiling selling price would “indirectly” standardise medicine prices and ensure the public’s access to affordable drugs. - FMT