PETALING JAYA: The Price Control and Anti-Profiteering (Price Marking for Drugs) order, which mandates that private healthcare providers display medicine prices, has been gazetted and will come into effect on May 1.
The order under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act was signed by Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Ali.
Individual healthcare providers who fail to comply with the provisions of the order will be subjected to a fine of up to RM50,000.
As for corporate bodies, they will be liable to a fine of up to RM100,000.
According to the order, private healthcare facilities and community pharmacies are required to label, tag or insert a price tag on drugs that are put on display and are accessible to customers.
The price list can be placed on the drug or the container or bag it is kept in.
For medications that are kept behind the counter and are not visible to consumers, a price list has to be maintained and displayed.
The price list will also 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 will have to be displayed in a physical form such as through electronic media, electronic screens and any suitable tools and devices.
The condition is the price list must be accessible and visible to consumers.
The list must be in English or Bahasa Malaysia. If it is not in either language, then it must be translated into English or Bahasa Malaysia.
All prices must also be displayed in ringgit and sen.
“If the recommended retail price of the drug is displayed on any part of the drug, such recommended retail price does not form part of the price marking or the list of selling prices of the drugs under this Order,” read the order.
The move has seen much resistance amongst private healthcare players as they cite increased cost and added administrative workload.
In a joint statement, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad and Domestic Trade and Armizan said this initiative is in line with the government’s commitment for price transparency.
They said the move will allow the people to make informed choices and make price comparisons.
Facilities that sell, supply or administer medicines as well as community pharmacies will be subjected to the rule. These are facilities that come under the purview of the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998.
The price list has to be displayed on a catalogue, notice boards or electronic screens.
As for enforcement, for the initial phase, the government would take an educational approach for the first three months.
The ministers also assured that the enforcement will be done in a considerate and effective way to allow all facilities adapt the new measure in phases.
"Checks will be done from time to time with an advocacy approach to ensure compliance to the order," they said.
The enforcement will be carried out by the Health Ministry with the assistance of the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry.
The move has met with a lot of resistance from the private healthcare sector which claimed that the move will increase cost and administrative burden.
