Cheaper drugs in the pipeline

NST: KUALA LUMPUR: Newer and cheaper medicines may be in the offing under the National Medicines Policy (NMP) now being finalised.
A copy of the NMP draft obtained by the New Straits Times says regulations will be put in place to ensure appropriate practices are followed.
The practices to be followed will be in such areas as the production and sale of drugs.
Regulations will be also strengthened on the development, import, supply, marketing and management of drugs, including their prescribing, dispensing and disposal, the draft says.
This focus of the NMP is part of the Health Ministry’s policy of reducing the country’s dependence on imported drugs.
"The development of the domestic pharmaceutical industry would lead to increased national self-sufficiency in pharmaceutical supplies and reduced excessive dependence on imports," says the draft.
"Generic substitution should be permitted and eventually legislated in order to improve affordability of medicines."
But cheaper drugs are not going to be on the shelves so soon, as the NMP is only now being finalised, after going through some nine drafts in the last 10 years or so.
The NMP aims at "securing the lowest available prices for products of defined specifications", especially for those under the National Essential Drugs List (NEDL), the draft says.
Health Ministry parliamentary secretary Datuk Lee Kah Choon said the NMP would also control the types of drugs coming into the country.
"As new drugs are being invented all the time, we have a problem of access.
"Pharmaceutical companies are always telling us what is the best drug to use.
"The policy can look into this and offer us options," he said.
Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society president John C.P. Chang said the NMP would encourage research into new products and ensure the quality of drugs and affordable prices.
"Our Government is very sensitive to over-pricing," he said.
"Although some studies show that generic drugs in Malaysia are expensive, others show that because the quality is high, the price is appropriate."
Under the NMP, the industry will be organised and regulated to create incentives and foster competition.