HEALTH MINISTRY PLANS PRICE CONTROL FOR MEDICINES

      
      
    KUALA LUMPUR, July 12 (Bernama) -- The Health Ministry proposes to impose price control for medicines to make them affordable for all the people, Minister Liow Tiong Lai said Monday.
    
    He said the ministry was in the process of gathering information to
determine a suitable mechanism to set the prices of medicines, taking into account the interests of the people and the relevant industries.  
    
    "The ministry is compiling information by studying the prices at every stage, from the manufacturer and importer right up to the consumer in the country to determine the mechanism," he said when winding up debate on the ministry in the Senate.
    
    He said the ministry always ensured that the purchase of medicines was comprehensive, for the treatment of all types of illnesses, and that the list of medicines was updated at regular intervals in line with current developments.
    
    As such, he said, there was no difference in the medicines given to Health personnel or the patients at government and private hospitals.
        
    "The ministry also always ensures that medicines in the market are of quality, effective and safe to use.  
    
    He said 69 types of medicine had been listed for 1Malaysia clinics,
including that for treating itch but a study was being made before the
introduction of antibiotics.  
    
    The house will sit again Tuesday.
    -- BERNAMA