Monday, July 14, 2008

Malaysia not ready for Dispensing Separation

I almost missed the chance to ask my question in Parliament this morning no thanks to the high-handed tactic of BN who misused the police to set up raod blocks all over KL to create a tense situation and forced the "dead cat" on our throats. I am sure many who travel to KL from Seremban this morning were trapped in the massive traffic jam.

However, i made it to the Dewan Rakyat 5 minutes before my turn to ask question which was listed No 4 today. I am sure the answer by the Deputy Minister of Health was most dissapointing to the pharmacists out there. The official answer is this:

"Kerajaan pada masa ini belum bercadang untuk melaksanakan sistem Dispensing Separation untuk ubat-ubatan. Ini memandangkan persediaan dari segi logistik yang melibatkan ahli farmasi swasta perlu diuruskan terlebih dahulu."

I asked 2 supplementary questions. I told the Dewan that there are pros and cons in any system. Since the Malaysia Pharmacists Association has put a demand for such system and listed out all the reasons and benefits of this system to the general public, why don't the Ministry implement a pilot project in a few major cities and if it can be implemented successfully then it can be considered for the whole country. I also asked the Deputy Minister whether the goverment will implement the "New Pharmacy Act" anytime soon?

As usual, a standard answer was given that the Ministry will study the proposals and the new Act is still under consideration. I doubt the Deputy Minister knows what he was talking about.
.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

The answers given by our Malaysian Ministers always tak masuk akal at all! Nothing new.

Anonymous said...

YB,

Great to see that you are making your mark at Parliament building your political ambition, but may I plead that you also pay more attention to the welfare of your constituency. For example, the road closure caused by the piping problems near the market. It has caused a lot of inconvenience and it does not look as if a solution is in sight because every time I pass by that strecth nothing is done at all. When can the problem be resolved?

Loke Siew Fook said...

To Serembanese,

Thanks for your comment. Although i spend more time in Parliament now, let me assure you that my constituency work will not be neglected. I aware the problem you mentioned. I have written a complaint letter to the YDP of MPS. The problem is there are many cables from different telcos under there...always the same problem..they never check before they start work..this is not the first case..i am equally fed up with their attitude too.

Anonymous said...

"Kerajaan pada masa ini belum bercadang untuk melaksanakan sistem Dispensing Separation untuk ubat-ubatan. Ini memandangkan persediaan dari segi logistik yang melibatkan ahli farmasi swasta perlu diuruskan terlebih dahulu."

Lame excuse. I am sure if the government gives the location(s) that need to have a pharmacy before implementing dispensing separation and assures that separation will take place once these locations have at least one pharmacy (Which is needed, otherwise I believe those pharmacy will not be able to survive), then I believe those locations can have a pharmacy within 3 months (bearing availability of a suitable premise)

Anonymous said...

hello YB,i am a pharmacy student.I am really concern about the dispensing seperation that is going to take place.I realise that the government dont really intend to have the seperation at all.Furthermore,about the Pharmacy act,i have a friend that working for a 'loan shark' to operate pharmacy.Seems that every can own a pharmacy?try imagine,an ah long own a pharmacy with control drugs?what can he do with it?those cough syrup?nicotine patch?A pharmacy must be own by a pharmacist and hold 51% of the shop.If not,definitely one day those bad people might misused the true purpose of medicine.