KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Najib Razak can use his own medicine to treat his high blood pressure instead of generic ones, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin was reported as saying today.
Khairy said the imprisoned former prime minister does not need to take the generic medicine provided to him by the ministry.
This is allowed under the Prisons Department’s procedures, he was reported saying by Free Malaysia Today at an event this afternoon.
“According to procedure, an inmate who can afford to purchase his own medication is allowed to do so. I am made to understand that this is not an issue,” Khairy was quoted as saying.
He added that Najib’s family had been informed and they can send him the medication of his choice.
Najib is currently in jail serving a 12-year sentence for corruption involving SRC International Sdn Bhd funds. He began his sentence on August 23 after the Federal Court dismissed his appeal and upheld his conviction and sentence.
Yesterday, Khairy said that Najib was being given generic medicine used at all public hospitals, which has the same formula as the medication he obtained previously from a private hospital.
Najib’s medicine became an issue after he was discharged from Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) last week and given generic medicine, which reportedly caused his blood pressure to spike, according to the former prime minister’s aide and lawyer.
This caused Najib’s 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) trial yesterday, today, and for the rest of this week, to be vacated as he undergoes further observation.
It started with a scope procedure last week where new stomach ulcers were discovered, according to his special officer Mukhlis Maghribi.
His request to be admitted at HKL for further admission was denied and he was discharged and given the generic medicine.
Today, Najib’s lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said the stomach ulcers could be one of two possible reasons for Najib’s current high blood pressure, the other being a change from his original medication to generic ones. – The Vibes, September 19, 2022
