PETALING JAYA: Amid rising costs of essential medical supplies, the Malaysian Pharmacists Society (MPS) wants the government to implement stringent price monitoring measures.
MPS president Prof Amrahi Buang highlighted concerns over profiteering in the free market, where hospital supplies and services such as drugs, laboratory fees and consumables are becoming increasingly expensive.
“The free market should ideally balance itself out, but profiteering is a real issue.
“We need a price watch system for these essential items because they are crucial for healthcare delivery,” he said in an interview yesterday.
Amrahi noted the importance of tracking inflation within the healthcare sector and called on the government to gather data from the Statistics Department and other relevant bodies.
“Without accurate data, we cannot identify what’s driving these price increases.”
He also pointed to the complexity of the supply chain, which involves manufacturers, importers, distributors, retailers and consumers.
He called for a comprehensive traceability system to monitor prices effectively.
“The recent medicine price display mandate is a good first step, as it provides transparency and allows consumers to know what they are paying for,” he said.
In ensuring access to healthcare financing for all, Amrahi suggested pooling resources such as the Employees Provident Fund, Social Security Organisation, zakat and wakaf contributions to form an integrated national healthcare system.
“We need to ensure everyone is covered. This approach would prevent anyone from being left behind.”
Amrahi also cautioned against the privatisation of healthcare, arguing that it could lead to widespread suffering.
“By integrating private and public insurance, we can create a more sustainable system,” he said.
“We need an integrated system that includes primary, secondary and tertiary care. We must invest in promotive and preventive care.
“We must start somewhere to build a sustainable healthcare system that benefits everyone.”
Malaysian Community Pharmacy Guild honorary secretary Rachel Gan said the rising costs of medical consumables are complex as they involve a global supply chain.
“When items are necessary for patient treatment, especially in emergencies, patients don’t have the option to choose.
“Every item can vary in price due to differences in country of origin, brand and quality,” she said, adding that the prices of hospital supplies are influenced by suppliers.
“We are at the end of the supply chain. If suppliers raise prices, we have no choice but to follow suit to remain viable.”
Suppliers too, she said, face challenges, including global taxes and logistics costs.
Gan suggested encouraging the use of cheaper alternatives with equivalent quality and urged the government to support local producers.
“Local production might be less affected by global issues and could offer more stable pricing,” she said.
