KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysian Pharmacists Society (MPS) president Amrahi Buang is reminding Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin that drugstore operators are healthcare personnel serving the rakyat, too.
He said this during the society’s emergency town hall meeting yesterday following Khairy’s statement that the Covid-19 self-test kits ceiling price is final as the rakyat comes first.
“The MPS’ motto mentions that we serve society’s health needs.
“We care for the rakyat and I mean it. This is not only about selling these self-test kits,” Amrahi said.
He said that pharmacists are not mere sellers but serve as healthcare professionals intrinsic to the smooth running of the nation’s healthcare system.
Thus, when it comes to Covid-19 self-test kits, pharmacists have to make sure their customers are aware of how to use them properly.
“So to Khairy, I want to say we are doing our job for the rakyat also.
“We make sure the test kits are used properly by the customers, which is important towards the efforts to control the pandemic. It’s not all about costs,” Amrahi added.
He said a meeting held between the MPS, Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) and 19 community pharmacy chains with the federal government concerning ceiling prices on Covid-19 self-test kits on August 18.
Amrahi said during the meeting, there was no mention of specific figures, which shocked MPS as, when the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNHEP) had announced the ceiling price, it said the price was agreed upon by stakeholders.
“We hope the ministry will be more transparent. We didn’t know what the figure would be as it was not mentioned during the meeting.
“We also didn’t have manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers at the meeting either,” Amrahi said.
He said MPS’ is not against price ceilings but is actually campaigning for the price cap, as well as for self-test kits to be given out for free.
It is understood MPS contention was the lack of transparency between stakeholders and the government.
Subang MP Wong Chen, who was present during the virtual town hall, said he supports the idea of giving Covid-19 self-test kits free to the B40 community.
“I am absolutely for free kits to be given to the B40 community. If the government buys 20 million products, it should cost around RM200 million.
“The M40 and T20, meanwhile, can proceed to purchase from community pharmacies,” Wong said.
He then went on to advise MPS to consult the Parliamentary Select Committee on health, science and innovation and explain its concerns.
On Thursday, it was announced that the capping of Covid-19 self-test kits prices would begin tomorrow.
The products will have a retail ceiling price of RM19.90, while wholesale prices are capped at RM16.
The statement announcing this, jointly signed by Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin and KPDNHEP Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, said the maximum prices were fixed to ensure the public can afford the kits.
The new prices are considerably lower than the current retail price range of between RM28 and RM41. – The Vibes, September 4, 2021
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