KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali has given his assurance that Malaysia’s participation in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) will not cause a rise in prices of medicines and medical supplies.
The senior international trade and industry minister explained that the multilateral pact provides flexibility and space for member countries to formulate policies to protect public interest and welfare, particularly on matters concerning health, environment and security.
Azmin said that based on the cost-benefit analysis (CBA) conducted by the government, Malaysia will still have sufficient space to empower its economic development agenda without violating the provisions under CPTPP.
“For example, Malaysian laws provide patent protection for twenty years, and this remains under the CPTPP,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat today.
“As such, the claims that the patent protection under CPTPP will lead to an increase in prices of medicines and other medical supplies is absolutely false.
“CPTPP will also not affect Malaysia’s ability to negotiate best prices for medical and pharmaceutical products and services.
“I would like to assure that following our CBA, the people’s interests, with respect to accessibility and affordability of health services, will continue to be guaranteed.”
He said the findings of the CBA conducted by his ministry will be tabled before the cabinet in the near future before being published for the public.
Azmin was responding to questions from Charles Santiago (Klang-PH) on concerns that third parties can use investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) to challenge the government on matters concerning the price control of medical products like face masks.
Santiago argued that the use of ISDS would be in conflict with national interests and the sovereignty of the country.
To a separate question from Wong Hon Wai (Bukit Bendera-PH), Azmin said a total of 14 acts will have to be amended at the federal level in order for Malaysia to ratify and enforce CPTPP. Of these, nine have been completed.
He said the amendments are not only to fulfil the commitment under CPTPP, but also necessary in the implementation of domestic-level structural reforms, as well as ensuring the country’s laws are always updated in line with international standards.
According to the minister, the remaining five laws that will be amended soon are the Employment Act 1955, Trade Union Act 1959, Labour Ordinance (Sabah Chapter 67), Labour Ordinance (Sarawak Chapter 76) and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. – The Vibes, March 7, 2022
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