IT is crucial that the government bring down the cost of more medicines as the current high prices are preventing patients from being cured, said Consumer Association of Penang honorary secretary Martin Khor.

He said it was good that the Health Ministry lowered the price of Hepatitis C medicine from RM300,000 to RM1,000, a 99% reduction.

“There are 500,000 Malaysians with Hepatitis C, and if you take this medicine, there is 95% chance of being cured.

“But previously, at a higher price, many people could not afford it,” he said after meeting the Council of Eminent Persons at Ilham Centre in Kuala Lumpur today. 

He said while housing and food costs should be looked into, medicine played a huge part for all Malaysians, especially those with chronic diseases. 

“The most important is the cost of medicine. If a family member falls sick, the cost of treatment for chronic disease is very high. 

“A study has shown that three quarters of Malaysians can’t afford to spend RM1,000 on a medical emergency. 

“That why we have to bring the cost of medicine down and thats what we told CAP.

“We also have to look at doctors and nurses who are moving from government to private hospitals.”

Khor said that the government should also reassess its trade position in pursuing ongoing regional trade agreement negotiations, such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, which could impact the price of medications. 

“This is major problem that we brought up. There are intellectual property issues in these trade agreements that make it difficult for us to bring down the price of medicine.

“So, we must look closely at these trade agreements and bring the cost of medicine down.” – June 5, 2018.