PARLIAMENT The move to cut the RM380 million allocation for medical expenditure in 2016 was withdrawn to ensure there was adequate supply of medicine at all government hospitals, said Health Deputy Minister Hilmi Yahya.

He said the withdrawal was directed by Prime Minister Najib Razak following the ministry's appeal.

"As such, we will not have any more drug shortage issues and the ministry will also look into medicine optimisation to avoid wastage," he replied to Ahmad Baihaki Atiqullah (PAS-Kubang Kerian) in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

Ahmad Baihaki wanted to know the steps taken by the ministry to resolve medicine shortage at government hospitals.

Hilmi said the ministry had already issued guidelines to stop medicine wastage by enforcing proper prescribing and dispensing practices.

- Bernama