There is no issue of a hike in prices of medicines in government hospitals and clinics because these are fully borne by the government.

The Health Ministry in a written reply circulated in the Dewan Rakyat said patients seeking treatment in government hospitals and clinics need not pay for medical costs.

“In the government sector, the increase in medical costs will involve the government and not the patients,” said the ministry.

The ministry was replying to a question from Mohamed Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak), who wanted to know the measures taken by the government to ensure there was no raise in the costs of drugs in government hospitals and clinics.

Recently concerns were voiced by many quarters on the possibility that the prices of drugs would be increased if the government decided to sign the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA).

- Bernama