The Malaysian Pharmacists Society (MPS) has recently raised concerns about the government’s push for medicine price transparency in private healthcare. While price display regulations are being implemented for pharmacies and clinics, MPS argues that the focus should extend to wholesalers and manufacturers to ensure fairness across the entire supply chain.
Why is Price Transparency Important?
By implementing price transparency, the goal is to make healthcare more affordable and accessible. However, MPS warns that an unbalanced approach—where only pharmacies and clinics must disclose prices—could lead to unintended consequences, including higher costs for patients and struggling private healthcare providers.
MPS’s Key Concerns
MPS highlights several critical issues with the current approach:
Lack of Accountability Across the Supply Chain – Wholesalers and manufacturers play a major role in determining medicine costs. If only pharmacies and clinics disclose prices, the root causes of high drug costs remain hidden.
Unresolved Consultation Fee Caps – The government has yet to address Schedule 7 consultation fee caps for GPs and dentists. MPS argues that enforcing pricing regulations without resolving consultation fees could make private healthcare unsustainable.
Financial Burden on Independent Pharmacies – Compliance with new price transparency rules comes with additional costs. Small and independent pharmacies may struggle to adapt, potentially leading to reduced access to medications in certain areas.
What Needs to Change?
MPS is urging the government to take a more holistic approach by implementing the following measures:
Expand price transparency requirements to include wholesalers and manufacturers, ensuring fairness across the system.
Implement a moratorium on the regulations until the issue of consultation fee caps is resolved, to avoid destabilizing private healthcare services.
Offer financial support such as tax relief or incentives to help independent pharmacies comply without passing costs onto patients.
Striking a Balance
MPS and healthcare providers support affordability and accessibility, but they believe that a well-structured policy must balance transparency, fair pricing, and sustainability. By addressing these concerns, the government can protect both patients and healthcare providers while ensuring long-term improvements in the healthcare system.
What do you think? Should medicine pricing transparency include wholesalers and manufacturers? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Read the full MPS statement here: Facebook Post
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