Putrajaya must make medicines more affordable for Malaysian patients and consumers. FMTNews
Medicines are not a commodity. Healthcare is a basic consumer right, and a major component of healthcare is the administration of medicines. Medicines cure people and should never be treated as just another commodity, where pricing and accessibility would be determined by market forces. The government has a critical role to play to ensure that all consumers, especially the low and middle income have access to affordable medicines.
It appears that the pharmaceutical companies in Malaysia are making exorbitant profits by international standards. In another study, it was found that “Malaysia has average higher retail prescription prices compared to Australia due to the lack of pharmaceutical regulation”. And according to the Penang Institute, the median mark-up for originator’ and lowest-priced generics in private hospitals was 51% and 167% respectively.
According to the World Health Organization , an “affordable and fair price” is one that can be funded by patients and health budgets and simultaneously sustains research and development, production and distribution within a country. Further WHO proposes that all nations, high income and low income, in their efforts towards universal health coverage, should have policy measures to control and regulate the price of medicines.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Govt needs to renew commitment to bring down food prices: DaimKUALA LUMPUR: Economic Advisor to the Government Tun Daim Zainuddin (pix) hopes to see a renewed commitment by the government in bringing down food pr...
Read more »
Solving the problem of bad apples among doctorsFailure by the medical profession to self-regulate will see laws put in place by the government, giving the public a bad impression of doctors. FMTNews Doctors Hospital Healthcare
Read more »
Suaram calls for RCI on Altantuya’s murderPETALING JAYA: Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) has called for an urgent establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into the murder of Altantu...
Read more »
Unions seeking relevance amid dwindling membership | The Malaysian InsightTechnology, outsourcing and union-busting chipping away at numbers but reps insist they are still needed.
Read more »
Perak Sultan says world urgently needs more climate activists | Malay MailKUALA LUMPUR, Dec 17 — Accelerating climate change has created a pressing need for activists able to create awareness of the urgent need for environmental preservation, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah today. During his speech at the launch of the 40 Hadis: Pelestarian Alam Sekitar (40 Hadith:...
Read more »
Germany MPs finally agree on carbon pricing | The Malaysian InsightBreakthrough renews hope that Angela Merkel’s govt can pass 4-part climate reform package before Xmas.
Read more »