Proposed Pharmacy Bill on hold for more feedback

MALACCA: The proposed Pharmacy Bill is on hold until feedback from stakeholders in the medical fraternity are obtained.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said the feedback, including those from the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA), would help determine the fate of the Pharmacy Bill which had been proposed earlier this year.

“The Pharmacy Bill is still under an early drafting stage and response from the professionals in the medical fraternity will be obtained before we reach any decision,” he said after opening the National Conference of Assistant Medical Officers 2015 at the Malacca International Trade Centre yesterday.

In March, the MMA rejected the proposed Bill after claiming that the medical fraternity was not consulted on the separation of dispensing and prescription rights.

Several doctors had also staged a walk-out during a briefing with the ministry in Kuala Lumpur on the ground that they were not provided with the fineprint.

On another issue, Dr Subramaniam urged the Public Service Department (PSD) to lift the freeze on the intake of supplementary medical staff including the post of assistant medical officers at public hospitals and clinics throughout the country.