KUALA LUMPUR: The government today withdrew the Poisons (Amendment) Bill 2019 from the Order Paper, making it the third time it has been withdrawn from the Dewan Rakyat.
The tabling of the bill had been postponed in August and December last year under the Pakatan Harapan administration.
Deputy Health Minister Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali called for a motion for the bill to be withdrawn, but no reason was given.
The bill seeks amendments to protect the rights of patients by giving them the option to decide where to buy their prescriptions.
It also seeks to require registered medical practitioners to issue prescriptions at the request of their patients, and a possible jail term for practitioners who fail to do so.
However, the bill was objected to by medical groups and MPs, which led to the health ministry holding discussions with stakeholders.