THE Health Ministry today offered short-term solutions to ensure sufficient supply of medicine at all private clinics and hospitals, as well as pharmacies.

Minister Khairy Jamaluddin in a statement said private health facilities can apply for a medicine supply loan from one another or the nearest government health facility.

“Patients can be referred to the nearest government health facility to continue treatment if necessary.

“But they may be required to change medication regimens based on availability at the new facility.”

Malaysian Association of Pharmaceutical Suppliers executive director Dr Choe Tong Seng said local pharmaceutical products rely heavily on imported active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and intermediates.

China is the largest provider of API and intermediates in the world. Pharmaceutical intermediates are the chemical compounds that form the building blocks of API.

The Russia-Ukraine war has caused oil prices to skyrocket and shipping costs to surge, interrupting supply of medicinal compounds made from petrol.

Malaysia is severely affected as it is dependent on the global supply of API and finished products.

Khairy said another measure is for patients to buy medicine from community pharmacies with a prescription from private clinics or hospitals.

“Government health facilities can consider lending medicine supplies for use during emergencies, crises or disasters by ensuring in advance it is left with adequate stock.”

He said he hopes that the short-term measures can provide a temporary solution to the medicine supply shortage issue plaguing private health facilities.

Khairy also assured that his ministry is planning long-term solutions.

“The ministry is working on long-term solutions to address this issue. Continuous monitoring is done to ensure the availability of medicines throughout Malaysia.”

Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii earlier today said the federal government must immediately intervene to ensure sufficient medicine supply in Sarawak.

He was responding to a report on a paediatric clinic in Miri.

The clinic said it cannot conduct physical therapy for children with asthma due to a shortage of Ventolin and other cough, fever and flu medication.

Among the products that have run out include Ventolin Nebules and solutions to treat asthma. – June 13, 2022.