PUTRAJAYA: The public, particularly senior citizens, have been urged to be wary of individuals charging fees or offering to register them for the Postal Medicine Delivery Programme (UMP) through unofficial channels.
Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said UMP registration was only available through Health Ministry facilities and could not be done through social media platforms such as TikTok or Facebook.
“There is no registration process other than through the ministry itself. Free medicine deliveries will also begin on Oct 1,” he said at a press conference after the launch of the programme on Tuesday (Sept 29).
The initiative, which will begin on Oct 1, would be implemented nationwide with an allocation of about RM5mil.
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The cost of delivering the medicines will be fully borne by the government through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
UMP has been implemented since 2011, with recipients previously charged a delivery fee of RM5.70 in Peninsular Malaysia and RM12.50 in Sabah and Sarawak.
Fahmi said the government had also decided to provide additional funding to ensure that all states could benefit from the programme.
He added that the initial RM5mil allocation would be increased following discussions to ensure all states could benefit from the programme.
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“An estimated 87,000 registered patients nationwide are expected to benefit from the programme over the course of a year,” he said.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the programme would benefit those in rural areas.
“Imagine having to travel to healthcare facilities just to collect their medicines and medication.
“As such, from the perspective of cost, time and convenience, this will make things much easier for them. This is what we want to improve and continue enhancing.
“Most importantly, it will also help reduce congestion and the burden on our hospitals and healthcare facilities,” he said.
