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Access and Affordability of Medicines in Malaysia: Need for a National Pricing Policy

Author

Listed:
  • Shui Ling Wong

    (Ministry of Health Malaysia)

  • Saliza Ibrahim

    (Ministry of Health Malaysia)

  • Norazlin Abdul Kadir

    (Ministry of Health Malaysia)

  • Salbiah Mohd Salleh

    (Ministry of Health Malaysia)

Abstract

Background High medicines prices are a barrier to medicines access, and their impact is greater in developing countries. Objective This study assessed the availability, prices and affordability of medicines in public and private sectors in Malaysia to understand the pharmaceutical environment and guide policy recommendations. Methods This nationwide cross-sectional study adapted the World Health Organization/Health Action International (WHO/HAI) methodology. A total of 87 premises from both public and private sectors participated in this study. Data on 50 medicines were collected to analyze availability, prices and affordability. Medicine prices were compared against the international reference prices (IRPs), and affordability was assessed by daily income level. Results In the public sector, the average availability of generics (74.8%) was higher than that of the originator brand name products (19.4%). However, in the private sector, the availability of originator brands was higher (52.2%) than generics (49.1%). Procurement prices in the public sector were up to 1.5 times the IRPs, but up to 8.4 times in the private sector. The study also observed large price variation across medicines in the private sector. Median retail mark-ups in private hospitals (generics 166.9%; originators 51.0%) were higher than in retail pharmacies (generics 94.7%; originators 22.4%). Generics were generally affordable, but originator brands were unaffordable. Conclusion Current policies on generic medicines need to be strengthened to improve the availability and use of generics in the country. High medicine prices and large price variation in the current free market suggest that coherent pricing policies and regulations are needed to safeguard the accessibility and affordability of medicines for the people.

Suggested Citation

  • Shui Ling Wong & Saliza Ibrahim & Norazlin Abdul Kadir & Salbiah Mohd Salleh, 2019. "Access and Affordability of Medicines in Malaysia: Need for a National Pricing Policy," Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, Springer, vol. 17(5), pages 641-654, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:aphecp:v:17:y:2019:i:5:d:10.1007_s40258-019-00480-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s40258-019-00480-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hassali, Mohamed Azmi & Wong, Zhi Yen & Alrasheedy, Alian A. & Saleem, Fahad & Mohamad Yahaya, Abdul Haniff & Aljadhey, Hisham, 2014. "Perspectives of physicians practicing in low and middle income countries towards generic medicines: A narrative review," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 117(3), pages 297-310.
    2. Government of India, 2017. "National Health Policy 2017," Working Papers id:11664, eSocialSciences.
    3. Chong, Hooi Ying & Chan, Tze-Haw, 2014. "Market Structure and Competition: Assessment of Malaysian Pharmaceutical Industry based on the Modified Structure-Conduct-Performance Paradigm," MPRA Paper 59537, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 15 Sep 2014.
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    1. Huong Thi Thanh Nguyen & Dai Xuan Dinh & Trung Duc Nguyen & Van Minh Nguyen, 2021. "Availability, prices and affordability of essential medicines: A cross-sectional survey in Hanam province, Vietnam," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(11), pages 1-16, November.

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