Drug price display rule to proceed
PUTRAJAYA: The medicine price display rule will go ahead with 'educational enforcement' on Aug 1 despite a court action filed to challenge it, says Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
The Health Minister gave this assurance pending the outcome of a judicial review filed by doctors recently, challenging the order and wanting the display rule to be deferred for the time being.
'We are aware of the application for the judicial review and I have no problems with it. Nevertheless, the implementation of the order will proceed,' he said at a press conference after launching the National Health Technology Assessment (NHTA) Conference 2025 here yesterday.
Dzulkefly was asked to comment on the judicial review filed by the Association of Private Practitioners, Sabah (APPS), Malaysian Medical Association (MMA), Malaysian Association for the Advancement of Functional and Interdisciplinary Medicine (Maafim), Organisation of Malaysian Muslim Doctors (Perdim), Federation of Private Medical Practitioners Associations Malaysia (FPMPAM), Malaysian Private Dental Practitioners' Association (MPDPA), Society of Private Medical Practitioners Sarawak (SPMPS) and one Dr Saifulbahri Ahmad.
The judicial review is in relation to the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering (Price Marking for Drug) Order 2025, which was to have come into effect on May 1.
The doctors want the rule to be revoked, saying that it hurts small clinics and was introduced without proper consultation.
The lawsuit by the doctors named the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister, Health Minister and the Federal Government as the first, second and third respondents, respectively.
The suit is set for case management at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Aug 22.
A three-month grace period from May 1 was previously announced, where no compounds would be issued and the government would instead focus on advocacy and education.
As for the enforcement of the display rule, Dzulkefly said the ministry would continue with educational enforcement and advocacy for the time being.
However, he did not specify the duration of the advocacy period before those flouting the rule would be penalised.
On a separate matter, Dzulkefly said a thorough study was needed before any decision is made to list etomidate as a dangerous drug under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
The substance, he said, was already listed under Second Part of the Poisons Act under Category B as 'intravenous sedatives and anaesthesia' used in clinical practice.
He said although a death was reported in Singapore related to the abuse of the substance, he said any move to list it as a dangerous drug must be evidence-based and not merely a reactive response.
Dzulkefly was responding to a proposal made by Bandar Kuching MP Kelvin Yii to list etomidate as a dangerous drug following reports of it causing deaths in Singapore.
In the Dewan Rakyat on Monday, Yii said etomidate was being misused as a recreational substance in vape products, often marketed as Kpods.
Its misuse, he said, could result in death due to severe respiratory distress, sudden unconsciousness, injury and adrenal crisis.
It was reported that Singapore was working to list etomidate as a Class C drug under its Misuse of Drugs Act.
Singapore's Health Minister Ong Ye Kung was recently reported to have said random tests found in one-third out of 100 vape devices seized were found to contain etomidate.
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