He urged the Federation of Private Medical Practitioners’ Associations Malaysia (FPMPAM) to provide strong reasons that could justify an exemption for pharmaceutical products.

“Why should there be an exemption? Other goods, including gold, have their prices displayed. So why should medicines be treated differently?” he said in a Sinar Harian report.

Armizan stated that Section 10 of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 gives the domestic trade and cost of living minister the authority to require goods or services to be marked with prices.

He also said displaying medicine prices does not prevent clinics or pharmacies from adjusting the prices.

“The domestic trade and cost of living ministry does not aim to control drug prices. Rather, we only want to ensure that clinics and pharmacies display them clearly on their premises,” he said.

Armizan also said the draft order to enforce mandatory price displays for private healthcare facilities starting May 1 is still with the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

He said details on how the prices should be displayed will be shared once they are finalised.

Last Wednesday, FPMPAM questioned the rationale for allowing the ministry to enforce price display rules at general practice clinics as these are typically regulated by the health ministry.

FPMPAM president Dr Shanmuganathan TV Ganeson criticised the health ministry for remaining silent on the matter, especially with the May 1 enforcement deadline approaching.

He said there appeared to be an overlap in authority between the two ministries.