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The Star
30-07-2025
- Health
- The Star
Drug price display rule to proceed
Ministry to continue educational enforcement pending judicial review 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.
Malay Mail
30-07-2025
- Health
- Malay Mail
Public education on medicine price transparency will persist despite judicial review by doctors, says health minister
PUTRAJAYA, July 30 — Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad today said education efforts on medicine price transparency will continue without interruption, despite medical practitioners pursuing a judicial review against the government's price control policy. In this case, Dzulkefly said the ministry supports the right to pursue judicial review, but advocacy efforts must continue while the legal process takes its course. 'As a minister, I welcome and respect the judicial process. We were also previously subjected to judicial review under the Medicines (Price Control) Act 852. 'As such, I support the idea of allowing the process to proceed. In the meantime, our educational and advocacy efforts must continue. We cannot afford to pause just because a judicial review is underway,' he told reporters in a press conference after officiating the National Health Technology Assessment Conference 2025 here. He explained that suspending all enforcement would create a gap, emphasising that the ministry's educational enforcement must continue until the court reaches a decision. Yesterday, seven medical associations and a general practitioner from Sabah applied for a judicial review against a government directive requiring private clinics to display retail drug prices, arguing that the directive oversteps ministerial authority and may undermine professional medical practice. The application was filed in the Kuala Lumpur High Court last Thursday by the Association of Private Practitioners, Sabah (APPS), the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA), the Malaysian Association for the Advancement of Functional and Interdisciplinary Medicine (Maafim), the Organisation of Malaysian Muslim Doctors (Perdim), the Federation of Private Medical Practitioners Associations Malaysia (FPMPAM), the Malaysian Private Dental Practitioners' Association (MPDPA), the Society of Private Medical Practitioners Sarawak (SPMPS) and Dr Saifulbahri Ahmad. The applicants, who named Dzulkefly, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, and the federal government as respondents, argued that the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering (Price Marking for Drug) Order 2025 exceeds ministerial powers, as Section 10 of the Act does not cover medications administered during treatment under Section 19 of the Poisons Act 1952. Gazetted on May 1, the Price Marking for Drug Order 2025 came into force with a three-month window before full enforcement begins on August 1.
The Star
30-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Medicine price display rule to proceed despite judicial review, says Health Minister
PUTRAJAYA: The implementation of the medicine price display rule will go ahead on Aug 1, despite a judicial review filed by doctors to challenge the order, says Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad. The Health Minister stated that although doctors want the rule, which took effect on May 1, revoked due to its impact on small clinics and lack of proper consultation, the implementation will proceed. "We are aware of the application for the judicial review. Nevertheless, the implementation of the order will proceed," he told reporters at a press conference after launching the National Health Technology Assessment (NHTA) Conference 2025 here on Wednesday (July 30). He was asked to comment on the judicial review filed by the Association of Private Practitioners, Sabah (APPS), the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA), the Malaysian Association for the Advancement of Functional and Interdisciplinary Medicine (Maafim), the Organisation of Malaysian Muslim Doctors (Perdim), the Federation of Private Medical Practitioners Associations Malaysia (FPMPAM), the Malaysian Private Dental Practitioners' Association (MPDPA), the 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 came into effect on May 1. The lawsuit named the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister, Health Minister, and the Federal Government as the first, second, and third respondents, respectively. A three-month grace period from May 1 has been given, during which no compounds would be issued, and the government would instead focus on advocacy and education. According to the court's website, the suit, filed on July 24, is set for case management at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Aug 22. The statement of claim filed on July 24 seeks a declaration that the ministry's order was void and tainted with illegality, irrationality, unreasonableness, disproportionality, and impropriety. The plaintiffs requested that the enforcement of the ministry's order "insofar as its application to private healthcare facilities and/or registered medical practitioners and dentists" be stayed until the judicial review case is concluded. They argued that the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister breached principles of natural justice by making the decision without consulting registered medical practitioners represented by the MMA. The group stated that while the regulation aims to curb profiteering, it has led to unwarranted competition among drug providers, focusing solely on drug prices. Dr Dzulkefly said the ministry will allow the law to take its course with regard to the legal suit naming him. "I have no problems with it. Let the judicial process take its course. We have to respect this process," he added. Regarding enforcement of the ruling, Dr Dzulkefly said the ministry will 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.
