KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 8 — The Ministry of Health (MOH) today assured the public that generic medicines in the country are safe and effective, stressing that all generics meet stringent standards set by the Drug Control Authority (DCA).
In a statement, the MOH explained that every generic drug registered in Malaysia must undergo bioequivalence testing to confirm it has the same therapeutic effects as brand-name medications. “This ensures that generics contain the same amount of active ingredient and deliver consistent absorption in the body, providing equivalent results to innovator drugs,” the ministry said.
The Malaysian National Medicines Policy (MNMP), implemented in 2006, promotes access to affordable medications through the use of generics in both public and private sectors. This approach supports the availability of high-quality treatments at reasonable costs without compromising on safety or efficacy, the ministry said.
“Generic drugs are generally less expensive than innovator drugs because they do not incur early-stage research, marketing, and promotional costs like innovator drugs, although bioequivalence testing is still required.
“In addition, if the same generic drug is supplied by multiple sources in the market, healthy competition can also contribute to more competitive pricing,” the ministry added.
Ongoing surveillance, including quality checks and adverse reaction monitoring, further safeguards public health. “All approved drugs are also subject to continuous market monitoring, including product quality complaints and adverse drug reaction reports,” the statement read.
Regular inspections by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) ensure that manufacturers comply with Good Manufacturing Practice standards. “Regulatory actions, such as product recalls or registration cancellations, will be taken if the required standards are not met.”
The ministry said that cost savings from generic drugs could be reinvested to enhance national health care services and ensure that patients benefit from both affordable and high-quality treatments.
