Latest news with #Medicines
New Straits Times
03-05-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
Medicines cheaper at pharmacies than clinics, patients report
KUALA LUMPUR: The price of medicines at community pharmacies is generally lower than at private clinics, according to Malaysian Pharmacists Society (MPS) president Amrahi Buang. Citing patients' feedback, he said those who buy their medicines at pharmacies often find them cheaper and more transparently priced than the bundled charges at clinics. "Based on what patients have reported, the average price of medicines at community pharmacies is lower than at private clinics. "Private clinics usually issue a lump sum charge after treatment, with no detailed breakdown. This makes it hard for patients to know how much they are paying for medicines specifically," he told Berita Harian. Amrahi said the situation was even less clear when patients used medical or insurance cards, as claims were made directly to insurers. "That's a difficult question to answer — what exactly is the cost involved in those claims?" He explained that charges at private clinics typically include both the doctor's consultation fee and the cost of medicines, making it difficult to know the unit price of each item. "In contrast, community pharmacies provide a detailed bill, showing the unit price of each product." He added that prices of over-the-counter medicines are clearly displayed on shelves, while prices of controlled medicines can be provided on request, either electronically, in writing, or as a printout. His comments come following the enforcement of mandatory price labelling for medicines, which took effect on May 1 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 ruling requires all private healthcare facilities and community pharmacies regulated under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 [Act 586] to display prices for all medicines for human use — including prescription and non-prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, traditional remedies, health supplements, and extemporaneous preparations.
New Straits Times
30-04-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
Mandatory price labelling for medicines at private clinics, pharmacies begins tomorrow
KUALA LUMPUR: The implementation of mandatory price labelling for medicines at private healthcare centres and community pharmacies will begin tomorrow. In a joint statement, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad and Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said the initiative is a collaboration between the two ministries. It aims to ensure the public can make informed choices by knowing, comparing, and selecting the best prices when managing their medication expenses. "This initiative is being introduced in line with the Madani Government's commitment to promoting price transparency through the Medicine Price Transparency Mechanism (MKHU). "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)," they said. 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. It covers all private healthcare facilities and community pharmacies regulated under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 [Act 586] that sell, supply, or administer medicines. The ministers said that prices must be displayed either on the product itself (through a price tag or label) or via a price list for medicines that are not openly displayed or are stored behind the counter. "This price list can be presented physically at the healthcare facility in the form of a catalogue, notice board, or electronic screen," they said. During the first three months of implementation, a phased educational enforcement approach will be adopted. Inspections will also be conducted from time to time with an emphasis on advocacy to encourage compliance. According to the Health Ministry's Frequently Asked Questions, medicine price lists may include images of the medicines but should not show indications or usage information. Additionally, LED banners or digital scrolling message boards are deemed unsuitable for displaying medicine prices to consumers. Medicine prices must be displayed in a physical format that is clearly visible and accessible to patients or consumers without the use of personal devices. "Displaying medicine prices using QR codes or online platforms may be provided as an additional option, but it cannot replace the physical price list," the ministry said. Further information is available via the Pharmacy Services Programme's official portal at Last month, Dzulkefly announced that a moratorium had been granted until May 1 for private general practitioners to begin displaying medicine prices in their clinics.
Malay Mail
30-04-2025
- Health
- Malay Mail
Putrajaya confirms drug price display regulation in effect tomorrow — here's what that entails
PUTRAJAYA, April 30 – The government has confirmed today that private healthcare facilities and community pharmacies will be required to display medicine prices starting May 1 under a new government initiative aimed at improving transparency and consumer choice. The Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) said the move aligns with the government's policy to enhance public access to price information under the Medicine Price Transparency Mechanism. 'The objective is to empower the public with informed choices by enabling them to know, compare, and select the best prices when planning their spending on medicines,' both ministries said in a joint statement. The enforcement will be carried out under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering (Price Labelling for Medicines) Order 2025, issued pursuant to the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011. The details of the requirement are as follows: Applies to all private healthcare providers regulated under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998. Also applies to community pharmacies involved in selling, supplying, or administering medicines. Covers all medicines for human use, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, traditional remedies, health supplements, and custom-made preparations. Medicines available on display must carry visible price tags. Medicines kept behind the counter must have prices listed in a physical or digital format accessible to consumers. The first three months will focus on education and awareness to help healthcare providers adapt gradually, the ministries said, adding that inspections will be carried out with a focus on advocacy and compliance support. MOH will lead the enforcement effort with assistance from KPDN, both acting in coordination to ensure proper implementation of the labelling rules. Consumers seeking further information can visit or send queries to [email protected]. Complaints about medicine pricing can be submitted through MOH's SISPAA portal or KPDN's eAduan platform.
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ANTARES VISION GROUP SIGNS LANDMARK AGREEMENT WITH THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH OF GUINEA-BISSAU
BRESCIA, Italy, Feb. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Antares Vision Group, an Italian multinational leading provider in Track & Trace systems and quality control, which guarantees the safety of products and transparency of supply chains through integrated data management, is proud to announce the official signing of a multi-year contract with the Ministry of Health of Guinea-Bissau (Ministerio da Saùde Publica), under the leadership of Minister Pedro Tipote, to deliver rfxcel Traceability Hub (rTH) and Government solutions (rGOV). This strategic initiative will support the country's digital transformation in public health management by enhancing pharmaceutical traceability, regulatory oversight, and supply chain integrity. As part of this agreement, Antares Vision Group will establish a nationwide pharmaceutical traceability and verification system, ensuring greater visibility and security across the entire supply chain. Mandatory registration for all supply chain participants will commence in the second half of 2025, with further details to be announced by the Ministry of Health of Guinea-Bissau. Transforming Guinea-Bissau's Pharmaceutical Landscape With this initiative, Guinea-Bissau will lead the way in Western Africa by establishing the region's first full end-to-end National Medicines Verification & Authentication System. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and data analytics, this solution will: Enhance the safety and reliability of the pharmaceutical supply chain. Provide real-time insights for regulatory bodies to monitor medicine availability and distribution. Enable patients to access digital product verification and Patient Information Leaflets (ePILs), fostering transparency and public trust in healthcare. Antares Vision Group's innovative digital health solutions will provide Guinea-Bissau with: State-of-the-art transactional repository (rTH): the fully GS1-compliant central hub will securely manage all supply chain transactions of pharmaceutical manufacturers, importers, distributors, dispensers, and central government-owned procurement facilities. Antares Vision Group's government platform (rGOV): introduces key modules tailored to strengthen Guinea-Bissau's healthcare infrastructure: - National Healthcare Product Catalogue: a centralized platform for managing all medicine and drug-related data. This regulatory approval tool will ensure real-time availability of data for regulatory agencies and departments, improving decision-making and patient safety. - Customs & Import Bridge: a comprehensive system providing end-to-end visibility into medical and pharmaceutical imports. This module will seamlessly link customs records with manufacturer transactions, offering the government real-time oversight on imported medicines. - Central Registry: a national registry for all entities involved in pharmaceutical manufacturing, importation, distribution, and dispensing. This system will serve as the government's central data management tool, streamlining regulatory processes and ensuring compliance. "Antares Vision Group is proud to be the trusted partner of the Ministry of Health of Guinea-Bissau, driving this transformation and remaining committed to delivering world-class digital life sciences solutions in the region," said Gianluca Mazzantini, CEO and General Manager of Antares Vision Group. "This agreement is an incredible milestone for Antares Vision Group and the Government Solutions Team. It marks a significant step toward achieving a modernized and more secure pharmaceutical sector in Guinea-Bissau," added Sebastian Neuwirth, Head of Government Solutions for Antares Vision Group. Photo: View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Antares Vision Group
