We will list price of medicines with GST, says deputy minister – Bernama
The price list for medicines, especially those which were expensive and were not included in the exemption list of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), would be determined to protect consumers' interests.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya said the ministry had held discussions with the pharmaceutical department to set a price list for medicines following the implementation of GST in April next year.
The determination of the prices was to protect consumers' interests and to avoid them being sold expensively, he told reporters after launching the Kelantan state-level World Diabetes Day 2014 celebration in Tumpat today.
"We are in discussions with the phamaceutical department to fix a price list, and we are confident that by the middle of next year, we will have that list ready," he added.
Dr Hilmi said the list was for costly medication which were not included in the list of 2,900 medicines exempted from GST.
"We know there are parties who sell medicines up to three times their values. We will control the prices," he said.
Dr Hilmi said the Health Ministry will also set the ceiling price for specialist and private clinic services which was implemented this year, as well as all the service procedures involved.
He said action would be taken against those practitioners who failed to follow the procedures and ceiling price set by the ministry.
He said the public should not have any fear because the GST would not be charged for treatment and medication at government clinics. – Bernama, December 22, 2014.
