Chua Questions Accuracy Of Medicines Pricing Study

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 20 (Bernama) -- Medicines in Malaysia are not more expensive than in developed countries and the findings of overpricing by two universities is inaccurate, said Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek.
He said there are more than 1,000 types of medicines in the country and accurate information on them could only be obtained from an in-depth and comprehensive study.
"If a study only focuses on 40 medicines in the market, the outcome will not be accurate," he told reporters after attending the fifth session of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman's convocation here Sunday.
Dr Chua was commenting on the findings of the study in Penang, Johor Baharu, Kota Baharu and Kuala Lumpur covering branded and generic medicines in 20 public hospitals, 32 retail pharmacies and 20 medicine dispensing doctors.
The two universities claimed the study found the prices of the medicines were 10 to 16 times more expensive than the International Reference Price (IRP) in the methodology used by the World Health Organisation.
Dr Chua said the ministry had since two months ago begun collecting information through registration of medicines by firms and pharmacies and will make it public in due time.
He said imported drugs were expensive but only some were used in this country and researchers who conducted studies should not be too hasty in announcing their findings.
Generic drugs were monitored constantly and there was no reason for their prices to escalate, he said.