KUALA LUMPUR, May 7 — A statement from the Ministry of Health (MOH) on a doctors’ rally against a medicine price display mandate did not acknowledge doctors’ support for price transparency.
Yesterday’s historic demonstration by more than 700 private general practitioners (GPs) and specialists in Putrajaya, Malaysia’s first-ever protest by private doctors, attempted to paint jurisdictional issues as doctors’ main grievance, instead of price display per se.
With large banners and placards, participants and rally organisers expressed backing for the price transparency policy by the Ministry of Health (MOH), but objected to the gazettement of the drug price display order under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 (Act 723) in the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry’s (KPDN) jurisdiction.
Eleven medical groups, which organised the protest, called instead for the display of drug prices in private clinics to be mandated under the Private Healthcare Facilities & Services Act 1998 (Act 586) under MOH’s purview.
This messaging was confusing to both the media and the general public, with overall negative reactions on social media to the rally. The issue of jurisdiction flew over people’s heads, as Malaysians perceived doctors as simply protesting against mandatory drug price display.
Journalists were also flummoxed at a press conference by rally organisers, questioning the contradiction between proclaiming support for price displays but opposing KPDN enforcement.
As one person wrote on Facebook in response to a Sinar Harian video report titled, “Kumpulan doktor swasta serah memorandum bantahan Akta 723″ (Private doctor groups submit a memorandum to oppose Act 723): “..ni bukan mogok..tapi sokong…?” (This isn’t a strike but is a show of support?)
“The implementation of this policy is not meant to burden or affect the operations of private medical practitioners,” the MOH said in a statement yesterday in response to the protest.
“Instead, it is a step towards creating a more transparent, fair and sustainable health care system, in line with the Madani government’s aspirations.
“The ministry is also prepared to study the memorandum presented and to consider any policy improvements based on current data and evidence. The MOH’s priority is to ensure reasonable and affordable access to medications, as well as to improve public trust in the country’s health care system.”
The MOH, which said it respected one’s constitutional right to freedom of speech and assembly, added that it has and will continue to hold stakeholder engagement sessions on its drug price display policy.
At yesterday’s protest, medical associations submitted their memo to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), not to the MOH, after changing their initial plans to march from the MOH’s headquarters to PMO and gathering near PMO instead.
Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad told reporters after an event yesterday that he would study “every one” of the requests in the doctors’ memorandum.
