Pharmacy Act: Doctors voice their concerns
Published on: Wednesday, May 06, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: The highly lucrative Malaysian pharmaceutical market estimated worth RM8 billion is viewed as a goldmine by certain quarters with vested interest who are keen to exploit it for themselves by pushing for separation in the dispensing of medicines. Medical practitioners said as a result they are left to explain the possible outcome to their patients, now already bothered and confused by GST concerns.The proposed Pharmacy Bill will incorporate, among others, a list of pharmacy only drugs and medications. The concerns by the medical fraternity are the impacts on patient care and access to medications and drugs nationwide as not all areas have accessible 24 hours pharmacies.
ADVERTISEMENT
Sabah and Sarawak have 50 per cent of the population living in rural and remote areas. The Daily Express report recently of a man carried by a buffalo cart to seek medical attention was shown on screen to carry the reality message to the attendees."You must tell at least five of your patients a day about the Pharmacy Bill and how it would affect them. Ask each of them to tell another five persons, and so on."Now the government is weak. We must offer them the choice of support for our concerns or we would offer our survey finding information to the opposition which is also part of the parliamentary system of government."Already some opposition Members of Parliament were more articulate in debating the issue in Parliament unlike the BN side, until the Deputy Minister of Health who was left alone to answer their questions had to call us for a briefing to get the whole picture that the Ministry failed to provide him adequately to answer in Parliament," said a doctor from West Malaysia.
ADVERTISEMENT
"We now also have garnered the support of some BN MPs especially from the BN Backbenchers Club, and we are working to fight this political battle from the top as there is no point talking to the bureaucrats," he said, when asked if the doctors had met with the Health Minister or Prime Minister. Doctors said the proposed meeting with the minister and premier are still in the works."We are the people, so are our patients. Most of us are voters. Politicians have to earn our votes the way we all see fit."
ADVERTISEMENT
Shocked and furious at being denied access to the full and complete details of the Pharmacy Bill and unable to meet the Minister in charge personally to voice their concerns, they collectively walked out to boycott the meeting called by the bureaucrats eager to register their consent to the eventual passing of the Bill. Doctors were lambasting the current Parliament sitting practice of debating until 4am as absurd form of parliamentary democracy."The MPs would be so tired that they just want to pass any Bill to go home," one quipped."In Malaysia, what started as a rumour can become a reality," another stressed."There will be redelineation of roles and powers. Under the current systems, State Pengarahs (State Directors of Health Department) are in charge of the State Healthcare Delivery Systems. Under the proposed Bill, a pharmacist will be in charge of all issues regarding pharmacies and pharmacists. State Pengarahs will have no say on pharmaceutical matters."Among the few details that they got which really worked them up for the fear of abuse and domination by pharmacists appointed to the various crucial key positions is that the Competent Authority under the Act if the Bill is passed would be solely controlled by the Senior Director of the Pharmaceutical Services in the Ministry of Health as the person vested with the legal power.This sole person may delegate powers to officers in the Pharmaceutical Services in the execution of any provision in the Act. Even the Medicinal Product Evaluation Authority (previously known as the Poisons Board) is said to be dominated by pharmacists in recommending and registration of any medicinal products.Under the Pharmacy Bill, the Competent Authority may issue a directive/guideline which is legally binding after consulting with stakeholders. The Competent Authority will advise the Minister on amendments of the Fee Schedule, product classification.The Competent Authority will appoint pharmacy enforcement officers. Police/Custom/Maritime enforcement officers and other enforcement officers can also be appointed as ex-officio for psychotropic and precursor matters.Offenders may be fined RM100,000 for pharmacist only products or prescription only medicines. Ditto RM100,000 fine for unregistered products. Ditto mandatory imprisonment and fine for cases of counterfeit drugs, adulterated products, psychotropic distributions and precursor diversions.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
