Kuala Lumpur: The Health Ministry (MOH) does not intend to issue any fines or notices to private healthcare facilities that fail to display medicine prices during the three-month grace period. Health deputy director-general (Pharmaceutical Services) Dr Azuana Ramli highlighted that the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering (Price Labelling for Medicines) Order 2025, which came into force on May 1, would initially focus on educational aspects to ensure all stakeholders understand the new requirements.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dr Azuana stated, 'During these three months, there are no plans to issue any summons. This phase is focused on advocacy and monitoring how the implementation is being carried out,' during a briefing session on the Medicine Price Display initiative. Also present at the session was Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) Enforcement director-general Datuk Azman Adam.
Under the order, all private healthcare facilities and community pharmacies must display clear price labels for medicines, either on shelves, in catalogues or in written price lists. Azuana mentioned that monitoring during these three months would be led by the MOH's Pharmaceutical Services Division, with support from KPDN enforcement officers.
When questioned about whether the initiative constitutes price control, she clarified that it aims to enhance price transparency under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011, and not about controlling medicine prices. Meanwhile, Azman refuted claims by a private doctors' group that KPDN officers issued three-day warning notices to clinics the previous day. He explained that the enforcement team was in the area for inspections related to cooking gas and egg supplies, and happened to ask a clinic staff member about the implementation of the price display rule, asserting, 'No notices or summonses were issued.'
Azman also addressed concerns about the possibility of price manipulation in response to the regulation, expressing confidence in the industry's maturity. The medicine price display initiative aims to enhance price transparency, protect consumer and patient rights, improve the quality of healthcare services, promote healthy industry competition, and support informed decision-making by consumers.