Doctors' march against price display law to go ahead
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) will proceed with the planned march by private general practitioners (GPs) in protest against the mandatory price labelling initiative.
MMA president Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira said on TV3's Buletin Utama that there should be engagement sessions before the policy is enforced.
"Act 723 is a piece of legislation that is unrelated to the medical field but is being applied within this sector. There are still many unanswered questions regarding this new policy and its implementation.
"At the very least, there should be engagement sessions before the policy is enforced," he said on Buletin Utama.
Earlier today, Health Minister Dzulkefly said the ministry would not prevent the protest and that he is prepared to receive the memorandum they wish to submit.
He said GPs should also acknowledge the ministry's ongoing efforts, particularly regarding the revision of consultation fees, an issue he has championed since his first tenure as Health Minister from 2018 to 2020.
He described GPs as the backbone of the primary healthcare system and expressed hope that they would continue to enhance healthcare services.
It was reported that GPs are planning to stage a march in protest against the mandatory price labelling initiative.
The initiative aims to ensure that the public can make informed choices by knowing, comparing, and selecting the best prices when managing their medication expenses.
It will be enforced under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering (Price Marking for Medicines) Order 2025, pursuant to the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 (Act 723).
The price labelling requirement applies to all medicines for human use, including prescription and non-prescription drugs, over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, traditional remedies, health supplements, and extemporaneous preparations.
Dzulkefly also said the long-awaited revision of GP consultation fees will be finalised within a month.
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