Stock check: Pharmacist Nur Asma Dalila topping up medicine in her outlet in Sungai Buloh, Selangor. — AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star
PETALING JAYA: Consumers are feeling the pinch as rising drug prices lead to mounting medical bills.
Some who need to constantly replenish their supply said they might have to cut down on other expenses to be able to afford their medicine.
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A 74-year-old retiree who requested anonymity said he noticed a significant increase in price for his monthly supply of alpha-blockers for his prostate.
“The past few months, I noticed the price for a box of 30 alpha-blockers was RM217.
“Recently, I purchased the same brand and it cost me RM245.
“I cannot find alternatives because this is what I was prescribed,” he said.
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The Hulu Kelang resident said he relied on a government health clinic for his high-blood pressure medicine.
“At least, I can save some money on the medicine I get from the health clinic,” he added.
A content creator who only wanted to be known as Lee, 48, said her mother’s hypertension medicine increased from RM59 in August last year to RM76.25 in March.
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“It is quite a huge burden for my family as we have to fork out between RM600 and RM1,000 every three months to buy her medicine and all the supplements she needs.
“She needs supplements for her knee pain and blood circulation, and also to keep her from dizziness,” she said.
Meanwhile, Ahmad, 50, said 60 tablets of antiarrhythmic medicine which used to cost RM406 now costs RM412.
“The rising prices are no longer sustainable – I need to cut down on my other expenses to afford this medicine,” he said.
On July 8, Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said her ministry was waiting for reports from pharmacies on an anticipated rise in medicine prices.
She said her ministry was willing to work with other ministries including the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry to promote research and development, and increase the production of medicines in the country, thus reducing dependence on imported medicines.
Meanwhile, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub, when met at an event recently, said the ministry could not stage an intervention in the price hike for all items due to the free market policy.
“The ministry has formulated a comprehensive assistance strategy to ensure people continue to have access to daily necessities at an affordable rate when prices are rising,” he said, adding that it was his ministry’s priority to ensure that essential items remained affordable.
Salahuddin said the ministry had successfully introduced the Payung Rahmah initiative, which has stabilised inflation.
He also said the ministry’s agencies would inform the Health Ministry if it came across complaints of medicine price hikes.
