STOCKPILES of medicines will be released from government hospitals and clinics to private healthcare facilities to address the current drug shortage, Khairy Jamaluddin said today.

Media report the health minister as saying that the move to release the federal stockpile of medicines will be done immediately to ease shortages which are being experienced in private clinics and hospitals, as well as community pharmacies.

“I have directed for the federal medical stockpile to be released and given to private healthcare facilities to overcome the short-term shortage of medicines.

“The stock will be managed by Pharmaniaga Bhd,” Khairy was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times in Kuala Lumpur today.

He attributed the medicines shortage – mostly to treat fever, flu and cough – to unusually high demand and also to supply chain issues caused by Covid-19 lockdowns in China.

The Russia-Ukraine war is also a disrupting factor, he added.

Khairy said the Health Ministry made the decision to lease the federal stockpile yesterday after meeting representatives from pharmaceutical associations, industry players and suppliers.

Stock is to stabilise in the next two months, he also anticipated, based on feedback from medicine manufacturers who are making efforts to increase production capacity. – July 15, 2022.