Eric See-To of Barisan Nasional strategic communications said a 20% cut in the health ministry’s budget for medicine supply over the past three years was in line with its plans to cut costs with greater use of generic drugs.
“Generic drugs are copies of brand-name drugs that have exactly the same dosage, intended use, effects, side effects, route of administration, risks, safety, and strength as the original drug. There is no difference,” he said in a statement today.
In contrast, Pakatan Harapan’s election manifesto, and its promotion of the “Kad Peduli Sihat”, would only be helping private medical clinics.
He then questioned the opposition for contradicting their own past criticism and proposals to the government.
“For years, the opposition claimed that government services needed to increase efficiency and cut wastage in its spending.
“However, when the health ministry did just that, rather than receiving praise, the issue is spinned by the opposition to incite hatred among the people instead,” he said.
He added that the money saved from inefficient drug supplies, is being used by the ministry to invest in better equipment, build more clinics and hospitals to serve the people.
“These hospitals will also benefit the thousands of new doctors graduating every year, as it provides places for them to perform their housemanship.”
See-To said the government sources 30% of generic drugs from local manufacturers while almost all branded medicine are produced overseas.
“The use of generic drugs worldwide has surged in recent years. The ever-growing healthcare expenditure has forced governments to seek ways to control their budgets.
“This is why there’s increasing demand for generics versus their branded counterparts.”
See-To then took aim at Pakatan’s manifesto.
“With their healthcare plan, a Pakatan Harapan government will only be helping private medical clinics.
“This compares with the BN government’s plan to take into account the need to provide places for our medical graduates as well as free healthcare for Malaysians.
“Hence, the focus on govt-owned clinics and hospitals rather than the private for-profit clinics that Pakatan favours.”
See-To added that regardless of what Pakatan has been saying on the medicine supply expenditure, the budget for the health ministry has actually increased this year.
“For 2018, healthcare was given a budget of RM26.58 billion which is 9.5% or RM1.7 billion more than what it received in the 2017 budget.”
58% of medicine at govt hospitals is generic, says deputy minister