The Health Ministry says it’s obtaining further information from the industry on Malaysia’s pharmaceutical supply, adding that local manufacturers have increased capacity.
The National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency asked local pharmaceutical suppliers and manufacturers, as well as multinational pharmaceutical companies, to help address the medicine supply problem.
Charles Santiago believes public clinics and hospitals will reduce dispensing of drugs from three months’ worth to one month, then two weeks, forcing extra visits and travel costs for patients.
Malaysian pharmaceutical suppliers expect worsening shortages not only of OTC drugs, but medicines across all therapeutic segments in the mid- to long-term.