Reveal contents of Pharmacy Bill — MPS

KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia Pharmacy Society (MPS) president Amrahi bin Buang hoped the government will reveal the remaining contents of the proposed Pharmacy Bill which is still currently under the wraps of the Official Secrets Act (OSA).

“We’ve not heard anything about the Pharmacy Bill since September last year. Is the government going to proceed with it or not?” asked Amrahi.

“We are also unsure what is stated in the Bill and will only know once it is brought to Parliament,” he added.

Amrahi said in a ststement yesterday that the last official statement regarding the proposed Pharmacy Bill was made in September 2017.

Former Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam was then widely quoted as saying the ministry was waiting for the Attorney-General’s Chambers’ approval before the Bill could be tabled in Parliament. This was following discussions with various stakeholders.

It was also reported in 2017 the Bill was redrafted and finalised to retain the system of allowing doctors and pharmacists to dispense medicine.

Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad mentioned on 6th of July that the Pharmacy Bill may include a new law which allows the Ministry of Health to regulate prices of drugs in the private market.

Consumer groups had, in the past, spoken against the Bill.

The Consumers Association of Penang, had in a statement in September last year, urged the attorney-general to reject the Bill as it contravenes the basic principle of medication safety.

The association added it was disappointed at the Health Ministry’s decision not to separate the roles of dispensing and prescribing in the private primary sector despite the fact that all other sectors (public and private tertiary and secondary sectors and public primary sectors) have been practicing separation for years.

It pointed out that separation of dispensing and prescribing is the norm in developed countries and that it “is most ironic that a nation aspiring to attain high-income status by 2020 takes a retrogressive stand in healthcare practices”.

Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association chief executive officer Paul Selvaraj was quoted by an online portal that in developed countries, patients, as consumers are empowered to make their own decisions in relation to where they get their medication.

“We hope the government will be able to shed some light on this proposed Bill and inform the masses when it will be tabled in Parliament.

Many, including pharmacists, would like to know more about the Bill and how it will affect them,” Amrahi added.

On a separate matter, Amrahi stressed that pharmacists can and should play an instrumental role in supporting the government’s efforts to re-brand and upgrade healthcare in the country.

Amrahi said pharmacists, including community pharmacists, do not just dispense medicines but can also initiate medical interventions.

In fact, a 2015 survey by the Health Ministry revealed many of those interviewed had hoped for additional counselling sessions with pharmacists.

“Being a pharmacist isn’t just about dispensing medicine. Pharmacists can do so much more and help promote a healthy lifestyle,” said Amrahi.

“Pharmacists can offer their professional services, like leading sessions for those intending to quit smoking and also manage minor ailments, such as cough, cold and pain, to name a few. In fact under the current provisions of the Poisons Act 1952, a community pharmacist with a Type A license can prescribe certain Group C poisons to relieve patients of their symptoms. Pharmacists, especially those in the private sector, can play a much bigger role to serve the society.”

The ministry should also consider the involvement of community pharmacists as it rebrands 1Malaysia Clinics. If the ministry decides to do away with the 1Malaysia clinics, then the government could work out a mechanism that would see community pharmacists collaborating with generawl practitioners to better serve the masses.Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad had recently said his ministry will re-evaluate 1Malaysia clinics which could be upgraded into community clinics.

The arrival of patients to government hospitals and clinics has risen over the years. According to the Health Ministry, an average of 1.3 million patients visited 1Malaysia clinics alone each year since their inception in 2010.