SOME 80,000 patients nationwide are expected to benefit each month from free delivery of follow-up medicines under the Ubat Melalui Pos (UMP) initiative from Oct 1.
The government will fully cover the estimated RM5 million annual delivery cost for eligible patients for the first year under the initiative, which is aimed at making it easier for patients to obtain medicines without having to return to healthcare facilities.
The initiative was launched today by Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil and Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
The strategic collaboration between the Communications Ministry, through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), and the Health Ministry (MOH) is also intended to encourage greater use of digital healthcare services.
MCMC will coordinate the implementation of the initiative in line with its role as the national postal sector regulator, while MOH will remain responsible for determining patient eligibility and providing the medicines, MCMC said in a statement today.
Pos Malaysia Berhad will handle the delivery of the medicines.
The initiative follows an announcement by Fahmi during the launch of the National Digital Health Ecosystem and Connectivity Drive (PERSADA) on June 15.
The government said the initiative reflected its continued efforts to expand access to healthcare services and make it easier for patients to obtain essential medicines.
Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching, MOH secretary-general Datuk Seri Haji Hasnol Zam Zam Haji Ahmad, Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Abdul Halim Hamzah and Pos Malaysia chairman Tan Sri Syed Faisal Albar Syed A.R Albar also attended the launch. - September 29, 2026
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