Medicine prices may rise due to falling ringgit - Subramaniam

The Ministry of Health (MoH) does not rule out the possibility that prices of imported medicines may go up following the fall in the value of the ringgit currently.

Its minister, Datuk Seri Dr S.Subramaniam said, however, if it happened, it would only be temporary.

"We don't rule out the possibility that prices of medicines will go up because there are medicines and basic ingredients for the medicines that we import from other countries.

"However, if there is a rise (in prices of medicines) it will only be temporary and the situation will not be limited to our country alone but also occur in the other countries because it is a global phenomenon," he told reporters after closing the National Convention of Young Doctors Club at the Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Puncak Alam, here today.

Meanwhile, Subramaniam gave his assurance that if there was a rise in the price of medicine, it would not involve government hospitals and clinics which had given free medical services to the people.

On the other hand, he said the rise in the cost of medicines might only involve private hospitals and clinics.