KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has urged the relevant authorities including the Malaysian Medical Council to conduct a full investigation into the allegations of COVID-19 vaccines being sold by a non-healthcare private company to private groups.

MMA president, Prof Datuk Dr Subramaniam Muniandy said if the allegations were proven to be true, stern action must be taken against the non-healthcare private company and the private healthcare facility involved.

"MMA has been informed that vaccines are being sold by a non-healthcare private company to private groups at around RM400 (two doses) per person with a private healthcare facility engaged to carry out the vaccination.

"MMA takes a serious view of this as currently the government is the official importer and distributor of vaccines approved by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA)," he said in a statement, today.

Dr Subramaniam noted that all vaccines available in the country are free of charge to the public and exclusively available through the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme.

In February, Health director-general (DG) Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the government did not intend to commercialise the COVID-19 vaccines in the country by allowing private companies to sell them.

He said no company was licensed to sell the vaccines, adding that the Health Ministry itself would supply the vaccines to all hospitals including private hospitals and would be given to the people for free.

-- BERNAMA