Doctors in black gather at PMO to protest against Act 723

PUTRAJAYA: A group of about 300 doctors has gathered in front of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) here in protest of the new law mandating the display of price lists at private healthcare facilities.

The doctors, mostly clad in black, gathered here since 9am Tuesday (May 6).

Initially, the gathering was called “Doctors Betrayed: The Long Walk to Putrajaya” and participants planned to march from the Health Ministry to the PMO, but this was changed at the last minute.

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The doctors were seen holding placards that read “We will not be silenced”, “Healthcare workers are undervalued”, and “Unfair fees and policies keep current and future doctors away”.

Datuk Dr R. Thirunavukarasu, who addressed the group, said it was an important opportunity to voice out their concerns.

“What happens if private clinics reduce (in number)? The people will suffer,” he said.

The Price Control and Anti-Profiteering (Price Marking for Drugs) order, which mandates that private healthcare providers display medicine prices, has been gazetted.

The order under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 (Act 723) was signed by Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.

ALSO READ: Drug price display order gazetted, to come into effect May 1 

Individual healthcare providers who fail to comply with provisions of the order face fines of up to RM50,000.

As for corporate bodies, they would be liable to a fine of up to RM100,000.

According to the order, there must be a price tag or label on drugs that are visible to customers and kept on display.

A price list must be drawn up for medicines kept behind the counter or not visible to customers.

The list would also contain information such as the generic name or active ingredient of the drug, its strength, trade name and the selling price per unit, per unit weight, or measure.

The list must be displayed in a physical form, or through electronic media, screens and any suitable devices.

The condition is that the price list must be accessible and visible to consumers.

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