PETALING JAYA: A group representing private medical practitioners has expressed concern over a recent statement by Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, saying that he was reducing a complex healthcare issue to a populist soundbite.
This came after Armizan announced that the government would proceed with the implementation of the Medicine Price Transparency Mechanism on May 1.
The Federation of Private Medical Practitioners’ Associations Malaysia (FPMPAM) said Armizan’s remarks — which likened medicine pricing to commodities such as chicken, fish, and gold — overlooked the clinical and regulatory framework that governs medical prescriptions in the country.
FPMPAM president Dr Shanmuganathan TV Ganeson said the comparison was inappropriate and risked misleading the public about how medicines are dispensed and priced in medical settings.
“Medicines are not retail goods. They are prescribed based on clinical need and patient safety — not picked off shelves by consumers comparing price tags,” he said in a statement on Saturday (April 19).
He said the comment suggested a lack of understanding of the regulatory complexities involved, adding that the Pharmacy Services Division under the Health Ministry may have “inadvertently misled” the minister on the practical implications of the policy.
Dr Shanmuganathan also criticised the repeated references to Section 10 of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 (Act 723), saying they disregard the fact that private clinics are already governed by other legislation — including the Poisons Act 1952 and the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998.
He said that the Health Ministry has remained silent on the matter, including the Director-General of Health, who has yet to clarify the ministry’s stance.
While reiterating that the association is not against transparency, Dr Shanmuganathan said the blanket requirement for drug price displays could lead to increased healthcare costs due to price buffering for expiry risks, supply volatility, administrative overhead, and enforcement uncertainty.
“This is not evidence-based policymaking. It’s performative politics masquerading as consumer protection,” he said.
He also questioned the decision to announce a May 1 enforcement date despite the draft order still being under review by the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC).
“To pre-empt the AGC in this manner is to undermine the integrity of Malaysia’s legal process,” he added.
FPMPAM is calling for the government to suspend the implementation, reinstate the Health Ministry’s regulatory leadership, and form an independent panel of clinicians, pharmacists, economists and patient representatives to develop workable pricing mechanisms.
“For decades, private medical professionals have served the rakyat with integrity. We will not be reduced to retailers — nor will we stay silent when policy threatens the trust between doctor and patient,” said Dr Shanmuganathan.
