Latest news with #PriceControlandAnti-Profiteering
New Straits Times
12-05-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
CCC supports medicine price transparency but urges regulatory caution
KUALA LUMPUR: The Consumer Choice Centre (CCC) Malaysia has voiced its support for the government's move to mandate the display of service and medication prices at private health clinics and community pharmacies, highlighting it as a step toward greater transparency, consumer protection, and informed decision-making. CCC representative Tarmizi Anuwar said the requirement would empower consumers to compare prices easily, fostering competition among healthcare providers and encouraging fairer pricing without compromising service quality. "When prices are displayed openly, consumers are no longer left in uncertainty. They can make better-informed decisions and avoid hidden charges," he said. Beginning May 1, 2025, all private healthcare facilities and community pharmacies in Malaysia will be required to display the prices of all medicines clearly—either through visible price tags on shelves for publicly accessible products or via a comprehensive price list for items stored behind the counter. In a joint statement, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living said the regulation applies to all private healthcare providers governed under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 (Act 586) that sell, supply, or administer medicines, as well as to all community pharmacies. The mandatory price labelling covers all medicines for human use, including prescription and non-prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, traditional remedies, health supplements, and extemporaneously prepared products. This requirement will be enforced through the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering (Medicine Price Labelling) Order 2025, introduced under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 (Act 723). Failure to comply could lead to fines of up to RM50,000 for individuals and RM100,000 for companies. While endorsing the move for transparency, Tarmizi raised concerns over the use of Act 723 as the governing legislation. He warned that applying this act—intended for essential goods—to the healthcare sector could lead to unintended consequences such as medicine shortages, reduced innovation, and declining service quality due to price pressures. Tarmizi recommended that the regulation be reviewed under the more relevant Act 586, which is better suited to address issues concerning private healthcare providers. "Controlling medicine prices through a price control order will stifle innovation and investment in the private healthcare sector and cause widespread shortages. In the long run, it is the consumers who will suffer — not through cheaper prices, but through deteriorating service quality," he explained. On the topic of consultation fees, Tarmizi emphasised that these fees should not be fixed by the government, whether as a minimum or maximum rate. Instead, he believes pricing should be determined by market forces, considering factors like service quality, doctor expertise, and location. Tarmizi said this market-based approach would encourage greater competition in the private sector, providing consumers with more choices and helping alleviate pressure on the public healthcare system by offering more service options and reducing waiting times. "CCC supports a market-based public health approach that emphasises transparency, consumer choice, and healthy competition. Price transparency is essential, but it must be implemented within the appropriate legal framework to avoid compromising access, quality, and investment in the private healthcare sector."
Daily Express
08-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Express
Sabah docs back protest
Published on: Thursday, May 08, 2025 Published on: Thu, May 08, 2025 By: David Thien Text Size: GP doctors protesting in Putrajaya on Tuesday. Kota Kinabalu: Some private medical practitioners here threw in their support for fellow GPs who took time off to stage a protest for the first time, Tuesday, against gazetting the drug price display order under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 (Act 723). Association of Private Practitioners Sabah (APPS) President Dr Devadas Ramankutty was among those who signed the petition. The ruling that came into effect May 1, put them in the same class of product retailers and expose them to checks by Domestic Trade and Cost enforcement officers. 'While the medical associations fully support the principle of transparency in medicine pricing, we strongly object to how the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering (Price Marking for Drug) Order 2025 is being enforced on private clinics under Act 723 without consultation and engagement with the affected medical fraternity, especially GPs,' 11 medical groups said in a joint memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister's Office. Some of the placards compared the price of fish (RM16/kg) and chicken (RM10.30) to the 'priceless' value of getting cured of illness, as well as the 80 per cent rise in the price of a packet of nasi lemak since 2011 compared to GPs' consultation fees that have stagnated for 33 years at a maximum RM35. Subscribe or LOG IN to access this article. Support Independant Journalism Subscribe to Daily Express Malaysia Access to DE E-Paper Access to DE E-Paper Exclusive News Exclusive News Invites to special events Invites to special events Giveaways & Rewards 1-Year Most Popular (Income Tax Deductible) Explore Plans Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Star
06-05-2025
- Health
- The Star
Private GPs push back
Photo: AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star Don't compare grocers with health services, say doctors in protest PUTRAJAYA: Mostly clad in black, hundreds of doctors gathered here to protest a new rule requiring private healthcare facilities to display the prices of medicine. They were seen holding placards that read 'We will not be silenced', 'Healthcare workers are undervalued', and 'Unfair fees and policies keep current and future doctors away'. The doctors, some of whom had even travelled from Perak, gathered here from 9am and intended to march from the Health Ministry to the Prime Minister's Office. However, it was changed to a gathering behind the PMO at the last minute. The protest ended at about noon. The doctors have said they are not against the new price display mechanism but do not want the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 (Act 723) used on the medical profession. This was because private clinics are already strictly regulated under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 (Act 586). Act 723 is typically applied to retailers and grocers, and doctors, as professionals, ought not to be subjected to it, stated Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president-elect Datuk Dr Thirunavukarasu Rajoo. 'Don't compare grocery stores with professional services,' he said. CLICK TO ENLARGE Dr Thirunavukarasu said MMA supports transparency in the healthcare sector and was seeking support from the Cabinet and the Prime Minister. He said general practitioner fees have been stagnant for many years and they are seeking the government's intervention on the matter. 'We know the fee is a political issue. That is why we are seeking support from the entire Cabinet. 'They are talking about inflation, and they must make sure primary care, delivered through over 12,000 clinics in Malaysia, is sustainable,' he said. Meanwhile, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad assured that every demand outlined in the memorandum would be thoroughly reviewed. 'I will certainly get their memorandum. I will study every one of their requests,' he told reporters at an event yesterday, Bernama reported. Among the 15 medical associations that joined the protest were MMA, the Federation of Private Medical Associations Malaysia, Interdisciplinary Medicine and the Malaysian Private Dental Practitioners Association. The Price Control and Anti-Profiteering (Price Marking for Drugs) order, which mandates that private healthcare providers display medicine prices, has been gazetted. The order was signed by Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Ali. Individual healthcare providers who fail to comply face a fine of up to RM50,000. Corporate bodies are liable to a fine of up to RM100,000. According to the order, drugs that are visible to customers and kept on display must have a price tag. For those that are kept behind the counter or not visible to customers, a price list must be prepared. The price list should contain information such as the generic name or active ingredient of the drug, strength, trade name and the selling price per unit, per unit weight or the measure of the drug. The price list would have to be displayed in a physical form, such as through electronic media, electronic screens and any suitable tools and devices customers can access.
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.
Malaysiakini
06-05-2025
- Health
- Malaysiakini
Memo to PM: Doctors protest regulatory overreach, fee freeze
In a memorandum to the prime minister today, 11 medical associations protested against the use of commercial regulations on medical practices. The groups say that while they fully support transparency in medicine pricing, they strongly object to the use of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering (Price Marking for Drugs) Order 2025, under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 (Act 723). 'Many queries were raised as to...
