PETALING JAYA: Egg prices may rise by about 10 sen following the removal of government subsidies and price controls, but the increase is expected to stabilise supply and strengthen the industry, says Mydin managing director Ameer Ali Mydin.Ameer said the slight increase was part of the transition to a healthier, market-driven system that would ultimately reduce shortages and create a more resilient egg industry.
“Since there’s no price control, the prices of eggs would probably go up by 10 sen and eventually, when there’s more supply in the market, the prices will stabilise,†he told FMT.
The government reduced subsidies from 10 sen to 5 sen per egg yesterday, with full removal and the end of price ceilings scheduled for Aug 1, 2025.
Egg prices are currently capped at 42 sen (Grade A), 40 sen (Grade B) and 38 sen (Grade C) per egg.
Read more: Egg prices may rise by 10 sen after subsidy cut, says Mydin boss
SHAH ALAM - Demi menggalakkan pasaran ubat yang lebih adil dan terbuka, kerajaan digesa mempertimbangkan mekanisme preskripsi ubat oleh klinik swasta supaya pengguna boleh memilih untuk membeli ubat di farmasi berdasarkan kemampuan mereka.
Ketua Pegawai Operasi Gabungan Persatuan Pengguna Malaysia (Fomca), Nur Asyikin Aminuddin berkata, dengan memberi pilihan kepada pengguna, ia akan meningkatkan ketelusan harga ubat memandangkan farmasi bersaing untuk menawarkan harga terbaik.
Menurutnya, langkah ini juga dapat mengurangkan potensi sesetengah penyedia rawatan mengenakan caj harga berlebihan.
“Memandangkan kerajaan baru-baru ini mula memberi perhatian serius terhadap isu inflasi perubatan, langkah memperkenalkan mekanisme preskripsi ubat yang lebih terbuka boleh menjadi sebahagian daripada reformasi sistem kesihatan.
“Ini sejajar dengan matlamat untuk memastikan perkhidmatan kesihatan kekal mampu milik, adil, dan mudah diakses oleh semua lapisan masyarakat,†katanya.
Jelasnya, pada masa ini, kebanyakan klinik swasta bukan sahaja membuat diagnosis, malah turut membekalkan dan menjual ubat terus kepada pesakit.
“Ini berbeza dengan amalan di banyak negara lain yang lebih mengutamakan perlindungan pengguna, di mana preskripsi dikeluarkan oleh doktor dan pesakit mempunyai pilihan untuk membeli ubat dari farmasi berdasarkan pertimbangan harga dan kemampuan,†ulasnya.
The Federation of Malaysian Consumer Associations (FOMCA) has issued a strong alert to the public, revealing that Malaysia’s burgeoning vape industry is overwhelmingly controlled by international tobacco companies, not local enterprises. According to FOMCA’s analysis, over 90% of vape product production and market share in the country is dominated by entities collaborating with global tobacco industries, which have a long history of prioritizing profits over public health.
FOMCA expressed deep concern over what it describes as deceptive tactics employed by these companies. The consumer watchdog alleges that these corporations are using a false narrative of supporting Bumiputera entrepreneurship to obstruct and derail the implementation of crucial national public health policies aimed at controlling vaping. FOMCA views this as a subtle yet dangerous strategy, exploiting nationalist sentiments to shield an industry that ultimately undermines the health and safety of Malaysians, particularly the youth.
Alarming Police Disclosure: Vape Products as Drug Delivery Tools
FOMCA voiced its full support for the recent alarming disclosure by Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay. The Deputy IGP revealed that drug trafficking syndicates have begun injecting addictive substances into vape liquids as a new method to create long-term addicts. This development, according to FOMCA, demonstrates that vape products are not only a threat to physical health but are now being exploited as a gateway to drug abuse, which the nation considers its “number one enemy.â€
The consumer association warns that if this trend is not addressed swiftly, it could lead to a generation suffering from dual addiction – to nicotine and illicit drugs – through products marketed openly and attractively, often with colorful packaging that appeals directly to children and teenagers.
Read more: FOMCA Alleges Tobacco Firms Use False Narratives In Supporting Vape Entrepreneurs
PETALING JAYA: Private clinics are still struggling to display the prices of the medicines they dispense, although a ruling requiring them to do so came into effect yesterday.
Some have not even started doing so.
Checks at clinics here found that some were in the midst of compiling and preparing their price lists due to Wednesday’s gazettement of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering (Price Marking for Drugs) Order.
Dr Nadir Khan, 60, said that he was busy preparing the price list while treating his patients.
“I began working on the list on Wednesday. I spent most of last night and this morning drawing up the list.
“Luckily, I have almost finished preparing it. All that’s left is to print it out later,†he said in an interview.
A 21-year-old clinic nurse , who only wanted to be known as Maisarah, said they had just managed to prepare the price list earlier yesterday.
“We have a simple medicine price list ready to be printed and put on display, but we are waiting for final instructions from our clinic headquarters,†she said.
KUALA LUMPUR – Gabungan Persatuan Pengguna Malaysia (Fomca) menyeru kerajaan, media dan masyarakat tidak mudah terpedaya dengan muslihat industri vape yang menyamar sebagai pejuang ekonomi tempatan.
Penyelaras Kawalan Tembakau/Merokok Fomca, Muhammad Sha’ani Abdullah berkata hakikatnya, industri tersebut jelas membawa ancaman kesihatan dan keselamatan kepada negara.
Katanya, industri vape di negara ini menggunakan strategi halus, mengeksploitasi sentimen nasional demi melindungi perniagaan yang memudaratkan kesihatan.
Beliau mendakwa, lebih 90 peratus pengeluaran dan pasaran produk vape di negara ini dikuasai oleh syarikat yang bersekongkol dengan industri tembakau global yang telah sekian lama terbukti mengutamakan keuntungan ke atas kesihatan rakyat.
“Vape bukan sekadar perniagaan tapi ia ancaman nasional. Industri vape di Malaysia bukanlah satu industri bebas, tetapi dikawal secara besar-besaran oleh industri tembakau antarabangsa,†dakwanya dalam satu kenyataan hari ini.
Read more: Jangan terpedaya muslihat industri vape menyamar pejuang ekonomi -FOMCA
Consumer advocates say it is the least the government could do to ensure transparency and protect patients from being overcharged.
Several associations said the policy, which came into effect yesterday under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011, was a compromise on earlier plans by the health ministry to curb high drug prices.
They claimed that the original plans, which followed World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, involved placing price caps on single-source prescription medicines, but were dropped “due to severe opposition, largely by industry and some professional bodiesâ€.
“This is the minimum that must be done by the government to ensure the carrying out of its mandate which includes promoting ethical and sustainable domestic trade while protecting consumer interests towards a better quality of life,†the groups said.
The joint statement was signed by leaders from the Consumers’ Association of Penang, Fomca, Teras Pengupayaan Melayu, RURAL Malaysia, and the Kuala Lumpur Consumer Safety Association.
Read more: Drug price display rule a ‘compromise’ on earlier plans, say consumer groups
GEORGETOWN: Persatuan Pengguna Pulau Pinang (CAP) bersama kumpulan pengguna di Malaysia menegaskan bahawa isu hospital dan klinik swasta perlu memaparkan harga ubat-ubatan di fasiliti mereka bermula semalam, tidak membabitkan yuran atau pendapatan profesional kesihatan seperti doktor.
Mekanisme Ketelusan Harga Ubat hanya tertumpu kepada harga ubat dan tidak harus disamakan dengan pendapatan dan kelestarian kewangan doktor.
Presiden CAP Mohideen Abdul Kader berkata mekanisme paparan harga menyentuh hak asasi pengguna atau pesakit bagi dimaklumkan tentang barangan yang dibeli.
Katanya, pendapatan doktor berkaitan dengan yuran konsultasi, kos operasi dan ganjaran yang merupakan pertimbangan kewangan berasingan, membabitkan sumber pendapatan berbeza di bawah kementerian, polisi dan rangka kawal selia berbeza.
"Ketelusan dalam penentuan harga ubat sebenarnya akan meningkatkan kepercayaan dan keyakinan terhadap sistem penjagaan kesihatan swasta, sekali gus memberi manfaat kepada pesakit dan penyedia penjagaan kesihatan yang beretika.
Read more: Mekanisme Ketelusan Harga Ubat tak babitkan yuran, pendapatan doktor - CAP
KUALA LUMPUR: The order to display medicine prices in private clinics and hospitals, effective on Thursday (May 1), has been welcomed by consumers who view the move as a manifestation of the government's concern for the rights and welfare of the people in obtaining health services transparently.
Most of them see this initiative as giving them more power to make purchasing decisions based on clear price information, in line with the principle of consumer rights.
A civil servant in Kedah, 48-year-old Norsyaliza Rosli hailed the move, saying it enables consumers to make price comparisons before buying the required medicines without hesitation or feeling cheated by unscrupulous parties trying to make a profit.
"When the government enforced this action, they can no longer manipulate the prices of medicine arbitrarily because they know that stern action will be taken against them. As consumers, we have the right to choose, so this is something we should support," she told Bernama.
Sixty-seven-year-old Mohd Yasin Zamri, a government retiree from Pendang, said the move would help the less fortunate like him to make price comparisons before making purchases at the pharmacy.
"Sometimes, when buying medicines, prices differ on different days… it's as if they are manipulating the prices.
Read more: Consumers hail govt order for display of medicine prices
Consumer Association of Penang president Mohideen Abdul Kader says this includes the use of plastic water bottles at all government facilities, such as offices and schools.
“National, state governments and local authorities should ban plastic bottled water from their facilities. Schools, colleges and universities should do the same,†he said in a statement.
He added that over the past two decades, bottled water has become a part of every social function. “Gone are the days when water was served from a jug.â€
Mohideen said that with the use of plastic water bottles, microplastic contamination is a major concern.
Read more: Consumer group wants govt to stop using bottled water
KUALA LUMPUR: Perintah pemaparan harga ubatan di klinik dan hospital swasta yang berkuat kuasa hari ini disambut baik oleh pengguna yang melihat langkah itu sebagai manifestasi keprihatinan kerajaan terhadap hak serta kebajikan rakyat dalam mendapatkan perkhidmatan kesihatan secara telus.Read more: Perintah pemaparan harga ubatan disambut baik pengguna, bantu rancang perbelanjaan ubatan
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MAJALAH CEKAP
Edisi 7 - JANUARI 2025
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EDISI 6 - DISEMBER 2024
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