Dzulkefly: GPs have right to protest, but must acknowledge ministry's efforts
HL: Dzulkefly: GPs have right to protest, but must acknowledge ministry's efforts
KUALA SELANGOR: The planned march by private general practitioners (GPs) from the Health Ministry to the Prime Minister's Office is their democratic right, says Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
The Health Minister said the ministry would not prevent the protest and that he is prepared to receive the memorandum they wish to submit.
"As for the MMA (Malaysian Medical Association) and the GPs planning to march, it is their democratic right.
"I won't stop them, but honestly, I want them to understand what this ministry, and this minister, has been fighting for on their behalf.
"I'm confident they will do so in a civil and respectful manner, and I am ready to receive any memorandum they wish to present," he said at a press conference after launching the 'Kembara Tolak Ubat Tidak Sah' programme here today.
Dzulkefly also urged GPs to 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.
"You may go ahead with your march, but please bear in mind that I, as your minister, have been working for you since my first term, and I remain committed to getting this done.
"Your commitment to medicine price display should be your responsibility. We understand that the public and consumers want this," he said.
He described GPs as the backbone of the primary healthcare system and expressed hope that they would continue to enhance healthcare services.
Earlier, the media reported that general practitioners are planning to stage a march in protest against the mandatory price labelling initiative, which officially began on May 1.
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.
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