PETALING JAYA: Although the mandate for private healthcare facilities to display medication prices is very much welcomed, consumer groups have cautioned about the possibility of price-fixing and stressed the need for proper enforcement.
While transparency is commendable, Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations chief executive officer Dr Saravanan Thambirajah said the possibility of industry players aligning pricing strategies could take place.
Coupled with a lack of proper enforcement, he said that it could lead to discrepancies between displayed prices and actual billed prices. With that, he called for greater regulatory measures on private healthcare to enhance consumer protection.
“Introducing price caps is necessary to prevent exploitation. If current laws or regulations are insufficient, the government must act swiftly to reform them to meet today’s needs,” Saravanan said.
Strict monitoring mechanisms are also necessary to prevent any sort of price collusion or irregularities, added Saravanan.
He proposed the reporting mechanism of the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) as a potential solution for addressing related complaints.
However, he stated that the ministry does not handle health-related matters and may lack the expertise or jurisdiction in these areas.
“This is where the KPDN should enhance its mechanism for handling healthcare-specific complaints by building an in-house team of officers that are well versed in the complexities of healthcare pricing and services,” he said.
“The government can make a significant step toward addressing medical inflation and ensuring fair pricing in private healthcare by leveraging the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act and equipping KPDN with the necessary resources and expertise,” he said.
He also suggested introducing price caps on service fees in the private healthcare sector.
Consumers Association of Penang president Mohideen Abdul Kader said consumers have the right to know medication and healthcare facility prices at private institutions.
“These are basic consumer rights that can empower their decision-making.
“Even at present, many patients with prescriptions from private hospitals do not buy them at their pharmacies but instead outside as it’s cheaper,” he said while commending Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad’s firm stance on the matter.
“Money making must not be the priority when it comes to people’s health.
“At the same time, the price of medicine sold at private hospitals should be reviewed and approved by MOH and KPDN,” he said.
Last week, Dr Dzulkefly said the ministry would not change its decision mandating the display of medication prices in private healthcare facilities beginning next year.
He stressed the need for a strong stance, as the initiative is part of the government’s efforts to address rising medical inflation.
He said that the move was not about drug price control, as facilities are only required to display medication prices so the public can make informed purchase decisions.
