KUALA LUMPUR – Public hospitals throughout the country are still getting Covid-19 medicines despite a drastic increase in demand and disruption in supply from producers, said Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.
He said the medicines are being delivered in stages, with the Health Ministry having taken various approaches to overcome supply issues.
Demand for drugs used in coronavirus treatment has increased drastically since May, following a spike in cases not only in Malaysia, but across the globe.
Dr Noor Hisham said demand for medicines in the country has increased by 10 to 15 times from the pre-pandemic period.
“The ministry was told of disruptions in supplies from pharmaceutical companies overseas following the pandemic, and local manufacturers have limited capability to provide a big amount of stock in a short period.
“This is due to a shortage of raw materials faced by producers, and an unstable flow of additional raw materials into the country,” he said in a statement today in response to media reports on the medicine shortage.
He said the ministry has taken measures to overcome the problem, including keeping in constant communication with suppliers to get priority deliveries for Malaysia and seeking alternative sources of medicines under federal contracts.
It has also made emergency procurements at the national and state levels, apart from facilitating the off-contract purchases of 21 types of medicines used in Covid-19 treatment, he said.
“The ministry continues to hold discussions with medical specialists on alternative medicines that are suitable for use, to ensure continuity in treatment. This encompasses all registered and non-registered medicines that can be obtained to meet our needs.”
For the sake of the people’s well-being, he said, the ministry is committed to cooperating with various parties to ensure the availability of medical supplies, and the quality, safety and efficacy of the medicines procured.
It was reported yesterday that many government hospitals nationwide are facing a critical shortage of medicines, including Clexane, a key anticoagulant used on Covid-19 patients. – Bernama, August 29, 2021
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