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Malaysian Reserve
07-05-2025
- Health
- Malaysian Reserve
Price Control Act will not disrupt operations, says MOH after hundreds of private GPs protested
THE Ministry of Health (MOH) assures that the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 (Act 723) will not disrupt the operations of general practitioners (GP) in the private sector but will promote transparency and affordability in healthcare. MOH said the law is part of a broader initiative to establish a more equitable and sustainable healthcare system. 'The health ministry remains committed to an open and inclusive approach. 'Engagement sessions with all stakeholders have been held and will continue to ensure balanced implementation that does not unduly burden any party,' said the ministry as reported by Bernama. The clarification followed after more than 300 GPs in black protested peacefully near the Prime Minister's office in Putrajaya yesterday for two hours and culminated in the submission of a memorandum to the Prime Minister's senior private secretary Aznur Hafeez Kaswuri. The doctors are opposing the enforcement of the Act upon the medical profession and propose that the regulation of medical practice remain under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998. Representatives from several professional medical associations participated in the demonstration, which included the Academy of Family Physicians of Malaysia, the Federation of Private Medical Practitioners' Associations Malaysia and the Malaysian Private Dental Practitioners' Association. The GPs said the Act equates the healthcare sector to a 'grocery shop.' The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president-elect Datuk Dr R Thirunavukarasu (picture) explained that while they are not against the government's proposal to display medicine prices and actually support transparency, they are disappointed that the government seems to be viewing the provision of professional medical services as equivalent to the retail sale of goods. 'GPs provide medical and professional services to the public. To open a private clinic requires over 10 years of experience and expertise, A-Levels or equivalent high-level education, five years in medical college, and several years of service as a medical doctor. 'Nowadays, anyone can open a grocery store. So you can't equate the medical profession with being a shopkeeper,' he said in a press conference after submitting a memorandum to the PMO. Dr Thirunavukarasu argues that the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998,is sufficient, as it supports transparency and allows consumers to know medicine prices as well as health ministers to enforce changes MOH stated that it is willing to review the memorandum and consider policy improvements based on evidence and data, while emphasising that ensuring public access to affordable medicine is a primary concern. The drug price display order, enforced on May 1 under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering (Price Marking for Drug) Order 2025 through a collaboration between the health and domestic trade and cost of living ministries, is already in effect. — TMR
New Straits Times
06-05-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
Implementation of medicine price display not meant to burden private doctors
PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry (MOH) has assured that the implementation of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 is not intended to disrupt the operations of private medical practitioners, but to promote transparency and affordability in healthcare. In a statement today, the ministry said the law, which requires clear labelling of medicine prices at private healthcare facilities and community pharmacies, is part of efforts to build a more equitable and sustainable healthcare system. The clarification came after more than 300 general practitioners (GPs), dressed in black, staged a peaceful protest near the Prime Minister's Office in Putrajaya. The two-hour demonstration culminated in the submission of a memorandum opposing the enforcement of the Act on the medical profession, which was received by the Prime Minister's senior private secretary, Aznur Hafeez Kaswuri. Among other demands, the GP community is calling for the Act to be reviewed, proposing that the regulation of medical practice remain under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998, which they argue already provides sufficient oversight. "MOH remains committed to an open and inclusive approach. "Engagement sessions with all stakeholders have been held and will continue, to ensure balanced implementation that does not unduly burden any party," the ministry said. Representatives from several professional bodies took part in the protest, including the Academy of Family Physicians of Malaysia, the Federation of Private Medical Practitioners Associations Malaysia and the Malaysian Private Dental Practitioners Association. The ministry said it is open to reviewing the contents of the memorandum and considering improvements to current policies based on evidence and data, but stressed that public access to affordable medicines remains a key priority. The price labelling initiative, enforced under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering (Price Marking for Drug) Order 2025, came into effect on May 1 in a joint effort by the Health Ministry and the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry.
The Sun
06-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Act 723 not meant to burden private doctors
PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry (MOH) has assured that the implementation of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 (Act 723) is not intended to disrupt the operations of private medical practitioners, but to promote transparency and affordability in healthcare. In a statement today, the ministry said the law, which requires clear labelling of medicine prices at private healthcare facilities and community pharmacies, is part of efforts to build a more equitable and sustainable healthcare system. The clarification came after more than 300 general practitioners (GPs), dressed in black, staged a peaceful protest near the Prime Minister's Office in Putrajaya. The two-hour demonstration culminated in the submission of a memorandum opposing the enforcement of Act 723 on the medical profession, which was received by the Prime Minister's senior private secretary, Aznur Hafeez Kaswuri. Among other demands, the GP community is calling for Act 723 to be reviewed, proposing that the regulation of medical practice remain under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 (Act 586), which they argue already provides sufficient oversight. 'MOH remains committed to an open and inclusive approach. Engagement sessions with all stakeholders have been held and will continue, to ensure balanced implementation that does not unduly burden any party,' the ministry said. Representatives from several professional bodies took part in the protest, including the Academy of Family Physicians of Malaysia, the Federation of Private Medical Practitioners Associations Malaysia and the Malaysian Private Dental Practitioners Association. The ministry said it is open to reviewing the contents of the memorandum and considering improvements to current policies based on evidence and data, but stressed that public access to affordable medicines remains a key priority. The price labelling initiative, enforced under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering (Price Marking for Drug) Order 2025, came into effect on May 1 in a joint effort by the Health Ministry and the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry.
