Justice Alice Loke issued the order after hearing submissions from the applicants’ lawyers, Gurdial Singh Nijar and K Shanmuga.

Senior federal counsel Liew Horng Bin represented the government.

In July, seven health groups and a general practitioner filed for judicial review regarding the mandatory drug price displays at private healthcare facilities.

A group of private medical practitioners representing doctors around the Klang Valley and a clinic also filed for a similar judicial review.

The applicants want the rule nullified and are seeking a stay by the court of its enforcement pending disposal of their judicial review application.

They claim that the domestic trade and cost of living minister had overstepped his powers when implementing the rule under Section 10 of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act (Act 723).

The applicants contend that Section 10 of Act 723 does not apply to drugs administered by health practitioners, which is governed by Section 19 of the Poisons Act 1952 (Act 366), health news portal CodeBlue reported.

They also argue that clinics operated by registered health practitioners cannot be considered to be supplying “goods and services” under Section 10 of Act 723.

Medicine price displays at clinics have been mandatory since May 1, although a grace period of three months is in place before compound notices are issued.

Under the new rule, private healthcare providers are required to clearly display the prices of prescription and over-the-counter medicines, traditional products, and supplements.

Health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad had told the court the rule mandating the display of drug prices would be fully enforced beginning January 2026.