KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry has agreed to release the federal medical stockpile to private hospitals and clinics facing shortages, says Khairy Jamaluddin.
The decision, which takes effect immediately, comes following a meeting on Thursday (July 14) between stakeholders and the ministry, said the Health Minister.
“Pharmaniaga Bhd manages the stockpile, and I have instructed the medicines to be released to the private hospitals and clinics facing shortages.
"The shortages of cough, flu, fever and kids’ medication continue to persist at health facilities,” he told the press at the Empowering Autism Preparedness and Response workshop here on Friday (July 15).
He said the source of the shortages can be attributed to among others, higher demand, which has exceeded expectations, and the increase of influenza-like illness (ILI).
He added the lockdown in China and the geo-political issue in Ukraine were also contributing factors to the shortages and supply of medicines.
Khairy expects the supply issue to stabilise in the third quarter of the year.
