SERI ISKANDAR, May 14 — Medicine prices are stable for the year thanks to manufacturers absorbing production costs, including for logistics, despite fuel price hikes, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad.
He added that medicine prices have risen by only about 1 to 2 per cent, if at all.
“In addition to maintaining supply, we also want to ensure price control thanks to the pharma (originator drug manufacturing companies) and MOPI (Malaysian Organisation of Pharmaceutical Industries) that produce generic drugs, as so far they have absorbed the increase in logistics costs due to the rise in diesel prices,” he said at a press conference after the Seri Iskandar Hospital inauguration ceremony here today.
Dzulkefly said the government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on raw materials such as petrochemicals, resins and polymers for medical devices as well as active pharmaceutical ingredients to diversify supply sources.
Meanwhile, commenting on the four suspected leptospirosis cases originating from Taman Eko Rimba Ulu Bendul in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan, he said one patient who was admitted to hospital on May 7 was discharged on Monday.
Yesterday, the Negeri Sembilan Health Department (JKNNS) detected four suspected leptospirosis cases, three patients of which received outpatient treatment and one admitted to hospital.
