Dr Jamalludin Ab Rahman, president of the Malaysian Public Health Physicians’ Association (PPPKAM), said the price of medicines alone do not determine the overall patient treatment costs at private hospitals.

He said that treatment costs are influenced by daily ward rates, disposable materials, the number of doctor visits, therapist visits and other factors.

“The rising cost of treatment will mean that fewer people can afford private healthcare services, pushing them to switch to government facilities and further strain the already limited resources,” he told FMT.

On Tuesday, health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad announced that private healthcare facilities must display the price of all medicines beginning next year to enhance transparency and prevent arbitrary price hikes.

Dzukefly said this initiative would be implemented under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 (Act 723).

Despite being sceptical of the policy’s direct impact on costs, Jamalludin expressed hope that private healthcare facilities will prioritise service quality over profits.

He said displaying medicine prices could guide patients in choosing hospitals and clinics that align with their insurance coverage.

“It is also relevant if they are using their personal savings. The public should be informed about this to avoid any misunderstanding,” he added.

Public health consultant Dr Lokman Hakim Sulaiman, on the other hand, questioned whether the health ministry itself had a clear benchmark for what constitutes a “fair price” for each service.

“Who will check whether each detailed price is reasonable or not?”

“I am not a health finance expert, but the issue of treatment costs must be addressed more holistically and comprehensively, not just by itemising them,” he said.