TRADITIONAL Chinese medicine practitioners warned the price of Chinese medicine increase in January. The import of raw materials has become expensive due to the weak ringgit, unpredictable weather is affecting crop production, and the increase in demand is a recipe for skyrocketing prices.

Federation of Chinese Physicians and Acupuncturists Association of Malaysia chairman Dr Ng Po Kok told The Malaysian Insight the price increase was usually 10% to 20%, but in the past 11 months the cumulative amount was actually 50%.

However, Ng said people in the industry had so far been reluctant to raise their prices.

The burden is now too heavy for them to bear, he said, and warned consumers they should not be too surprised if the prices would go up by 100%.

“Most of the Chinese medicine practitioners have seen their profits shrink.”

Ng said the popular honeysuckle and codonopsis – a family of plants used in China and Korea to replenish vital energy, or qi – had seen a leap in their price.

“Especially honeysuckle, which is commonly used in the treatment of flu. And recently, we have seen a rise in flu cases,” Ng said.

He said practitioners in the past two years have been reluctant to increase their prices because “we understand the tough market conditions and the pressures brought about by inflation”.

“We try to minimise the impact by absorbing the increments, but with the cost of importing some herbs having increased up to 50% or even 100%. The practitioners will have to adjust their medicine prices.”

Ng said if the consultation fee now is RM100, the new fee could be between RM120 and RM130. He said the increase is reasonable.

Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Drug Dealer Association president Ma Kum Keong, however, pointed out that the prices of some medicine had in fact fallen “slightly”. They were codonopsis and angelica sinensis – a traditional herbal medicine that is believed to nourish the blood, restore the body’s natural balance, and serve as a tonic for a number of gynecological conditions, including amenorrhea.

A herbal medicine whose price has remained high, he said, is the “seven leaves, one flower” (Paris polyphylla), which is reported to have anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties.

The price was RM15 per kg but has not surged to RM800 per kg.

Ng said traditional Chinese medicine practitioners need to source for cheaper alternatives to stay competitive.

“We can’t control the price increases so experienced practitioners will need to look for substitutes to reduce costs.”

He said the prices of traditional Chinese medicinal herbs fluctuate. – December 9, 2023.