Drug price display: No fines during three-month grace period, say ministries

PUTRAJAYA: No compounds would be issued during the three-month “grace period” for the enforcement of the medicine price display law that came into effect on May 1.

The government would instead focus on advocacy and education during the period.

Enforcement would be jointly conducted by the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) and the Health ministries.

KPDN enforcement director-general Datuk Azman Adam said enforcement officers would guide private healthcare practitioners on adapting to the new order during the grace period.

“In these three months, we will conduct checks and enforcement responsibly,” he said during a joint briefing by the two ministries here on Friday (May 2).

“During that period, enforcement officers will join the Health Ministry’s team to conduct checks and guide private hospitals and clinics on fulfilling the requirements of this order,” he said.

He said during this period, the government would also gather feedback from the field and update the Frequently Asked Questions to improve shortcomings.

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Health Minister deputy director-general of health (pharmacy) Dr Azuana Ramli said that there are no plans to issue compounds during the three-month grace period.

“That is the idea of educational enforcement. So during this three-month phase of educational enforcement, we will advocate and look at how this order is implemented,” she said.

“It is a learning phase for both sides,” she added.

The Price Control and Anti-Profiteering (Price Marking for Drugs) order, which mandates private healthcare players to display medicine prices, came into effect on May 1.

Individual healthcare providers who fail to comply with the provision of the order will be subjected to a fine of up to RM50,000.

As for corporate bodies, they will be liable to a fine of up to RM100,000.