KUALA LUMPUR – Beginning tomorrow (May 1), private healthcare facilities and community pharmacies must display their medicine prices.
The move is in line with the Madani Government’s commitment to implement price transparency through the Medicine Price Transparency Mechanism, said a joint statement from the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN).
Both ministries said they would collaborate to implement the initiative under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering (Price Labelling for Medicines) Order, 2025, issued pursuant to the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 (Act 723).
The statement said the initiative aims to empower consumers with informed choices by enabling them to know, compare, and select the best prices when planning their medication expenses.
“The scope of price labelling covers all human medicines, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, over-the-counter drugs, traditional medicines, health supplements and extemporaneous preparations.
“Price labelling must be done in the form of a price list or price tags. Medicines displayed for sale and accessible by users must be labelled, tagged or marked with a price,” the statement said.
The ministries said that for medications that are not visible or accessible to consumers, such as those kept behind the counter, a price list must be displayed. This can be done through a catalogue, notice board or electronic screen.
During the monitoring phase of this initiative, the statement said the initial phase of monitoring and enforcement will utilise a gradual educational enforcement approach lasting three months.
“This approach ensures that enforcement activities are carried out wisely, compassionately and effectively, enabling each private healthcare facility to adapt and improve progressively.
“Checks will be conducted from time to time with an advocacy-based approach to ensure compliance with this order. The MOH will carry out enforcement of medicine price labelling with guidance and cooperation from the KPDN,” the statement added.
The public can access Frequently Asked Questions related to the Medicine Price Labelling Initiative via the Pharmacy Services Programme, MOH’s official website at www.pharmacy.gov.my or email any queries to [email protected].
For complaints related to medicine pricing issues, the public may submit them via the MOH Public Complaints Management System (SISPAA) at https://moh.spab.gov.my or the KPDN e-Complaint portal at https://eaduan.kpdn.gov.my. – April 30, 2025