A TOTAL of RM23.25bil has been spent on buying medicine from 2015 to 2023 for public hospitals and clinics, says Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
The Health Minister said over the past eight years, the medication-related expenses have increased by 30%.
“The increase in financial allocation aligns with the rising cost of medications, the growing number of patients and the use of new medications, which are typically still under patent and more expensive,” he said.
Dzulkefly added that the expenditure on medication will increase every year.
According to the year-on-year data, the highest amount was in 2022 (RM3,193.15mil) and the lowest was in 2016 at RM2,107.61mil.
The minister was responding to a question from Azli Yusof (PH-Shah Alam) about the total annual expenditure on medicines for public hospitals and clinics since 2015.
Azli also asked about the ministry’s plans to ensure the country’s medicine supply security through the development of technology and local production capacity.
To this, Dzulkefly said the ministry would enhance supply chain transparency through the development of a pharmaceutical product tracking and tracing system.
“The availability of medicines listed in the National Essential Medicines List will encourage more local manufacturing and give priority to registration and evaluation of medicinal products,” he said.
He added that the ministry is collaborating with all stakeholders within the pharmaceutical ecosystem, including various ministries, public agencies and the private sector, particularly industry players.
“Through these engagement sessions, we will identify the strengths and benefits of the local pharmaceutical industry based on the Asean Drug Security and Self-Reliance plan,” he said.
On the issue of insulin supply for diabetes, Dzulkefly said the shortage in August last year was due to production problems from the supply company, Biocon.
He said the ministry will avoid sourcing insulin from one company in the future for human insulin and is currently negotiating with other companies.
“We are also exploring other medications or anti-hyperglycemic and hypoglycemic agents to expand our sources,” he said in a supplementary question by Dr Alias Razak (PN-Kuala Nerus).
