Private Healthcare Facilities To Display Medicine Prices From 1 May — But It's Pending
The new policy aims to empower consumers and promote price transparency in healthcare services.
By May Vin Ang — 28 Apr 2025, 05:04 PM
Private hospitals and clinics will be required to display the prices of medicines starting 1 May.
However, the details on how this policy will be implemented remain unclear.
According to a New Straits Times report in March, the government was finalising a new policy to make it compulsory for healthcare facilities to display medicine prices to empower consumers, aligning with its broader policy of price transparency in healthcare services.
"This Medicine Price Transparency Mechanism was introduced at the National Action Council for Cost of Living meeting on 3 October 2023, and followed by a cabinet memorandum involving Domestic Trade and Costs of Living Ministry (KPDN) and the Health Ministry on 8 January," said KPDN Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali at a press conference on 14 March.
Armizan explained that the new order would be enforced under Section 10 of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 (Act 723)
Section 10 of the Act grants the minister authority to mandate price displays for specific goods and services, including how the information should be presented.
"Besides providing consumers with access to vital information, displaying medicine prices can help address Malaysia's high medical inflation rate," he said.
He added that the government hoped the order could be enforced swiftly, welcoming the Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad's announcement that it would officially take effect on 1 May 2025.
However, as of today, 28 April, just three days before the target date of enforcement, KPDN has yet to announce the official gazettement of the order under Act 723
Meanwhile, according to CodeBlue, medical groups have voiced strong opposition to KPDN's involvement, arguing that regulating medicine prices should remain under the Health Ministry's jurisdiction, although they support the principle of price transparency.
