Authorities will not issue compounds in grace-period for new medicine price display law

The Star

02-05-2025

PUTRAJAYA: No compounds would be issued during the three-month 'grace period' ahead of the enforcement of the medicine price display law that came into effect on May 1.
The government would instead focus on advocacy and education during the period.
Enforcement would be jointly conducted by the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) and the Health ministries.
KPDN enforcement director-general Datuk Azman Adam said enforcement officers would guide private healthcare practitioners on adapting to the new order during the grace period.
'In these three months, we will conduct checks and enforcement responsibly,' he said during a joint briefing by the two ministries here on Friday (May 2).
'During that period, enforcement officers will join the Health Ministry's team to conduct checks and guide private hospitals and clinics on fulfilling the requirements of this order,' he said.
He said during this period, the government would also gather feedback from the field and update the Frequently Asked Questions to improve shortcomings.
Azman also clarified that no notices or compounds were issued on the first day of the law coming into effect on May 1.
He was responding to social media claims that healthcare practitioners were 'threatened with compounds' by enforcement officers for failing to comply with the new law.
Azman explained that enforcement activities on May 1 were not confined to medicine prices but also involved other items such as cooking oil and eggs.
'Coincidentally, our officers were in the area to carry out operations. Our officers had asked the (healthcare practitioner) whether they were aware of the new law. It was a routine check, and there were no notices and compounds issued,' he said.
Health Minister deputy director-general of health (pharmacy) Dr Azuana Ramli also confirmed that there are no plans to issue compounds during the three-month grace period.
'That is the idea of educational enforcement. So during this three-month phase of educational enforcement, we will advocate and look at how this order is implemented,' she said.
'It is a learning phase for both sides,' she added.
The Price Control and Anti-Profiteering (Price Marking for Drugs) order, which mandates private healthcare players to display medicine prices, came into effect on May 1.
Individual healthcare providers who fail to comply with the provision of the order will be subjected to a fine of up to RM50,000.
As for corporate bodies, they will be liable to a fine of up to RM100,000.