13th August 2025 - 2 min read
The government will fully enforce the mandatory display of medicine prices at all private healthcare facilities from 2026. This includes private clinics, aesthetic clinics, and community pharmacies. The initiative is part of efforts to improve public access to price information and promote transparency in the private healthcare sector.
Deputy Health Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni told the Dewan Rakyat that the policy is intended to help the public make informed decisions by knowing the cost of medicines in advance. It is also aimed at encouraging competitive pricing among providers.
The Ministry of Health will launch a capsule medicine monitoring study in September 2025 to assess the impact of transparent medicine pricing. The study will focus on capsule-form medicines, tracking their retail prices and availability across private healthcare facilities to determine whether the policy benefits consumers.
According to the ministry, the study’s findings will be used to guide further policy improvements. The goal is to support the development of a transparent, fair, and consumer-focused private pharmacy system.
The medicine price display policy officially began on 1 May 2025. The first three months, ending 31 July 2025, were designated as an educational enforcement period. During this time, no penalties were imposed on non-compliant facilities.
By the end of July 2025, preliminary assessments showed that 55% (1,639 facilities) had fully complied with the requirements. However, 45% (739 facilities) had yet to meet the standards, with issues such as incomplete price listings or displays that were not easily accessible to patients.
From 1 August to 31 December 2025, the ministry is carrying out administrative enforcement through inspections and continuous monitoring.
The ministry acknowledged that stronger action is needed to protect patients’ right to clear and accessible price information. This will include more frequent inspections, targeted guidance for non-compliant facilities, and firm enforcement measures, including penalties, against those that continue to hide or obscure medicine prices.
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Samuel writes about personal finance and financial news, focusing on how banking updates, policies, and promotions affect everyday money decisions. He enjoys making complicated financial topics easier to follow. Outside of writing, he spends his time watching TV shows and occasionally convincing himself he will only watch one episode.
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