By Aimi Mohamad Farid
SERDANG, 29 April — Rising global supply chain disruptions are driving up the cost of medicines and medical devices by as much as 100 per cent, placing growing pressure on Malaysia’s healthcare system and government finances.
A senior lecturer at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Dr Siti Zaidah Turmin, said geopolitical conflicts have significantly increased procurement costs, forcing the government to spend more to maintain existing healthcare services.
“Medicine prices have risen between 30 and 40 per cent, while medical devices have increased by 50 to 100 per cent,” she said, warning that the trend is straining the national healthcare budget.
The surge in costs has widened the gap between actual treatment expenses and the heavily subsidised fees paid by patients, increasing the government’s subsidy burden and adding pressure to the country’s fiscal position.
Patients are also feeling the impact, particularly those with chronic illnesses who depend on long-term medication. Financial constraints could lead to poor treatment adherence and worsening health outcomes.
Hospitals, meanwhile, may face reduced capacity, delays in acquiring new equipment and heavier patient loads as more Malaysians turn to public healthcare amid rising private medical costs.
While short-term measures such as buffer stock and alternative treatments can ease supply pressures, Dr Siti Zaidah said these are insufficient to address the root causes of rising costs.
She stressed that long-term solutions must include strengthening digital supply chain management and boosting local production to reduce reliance on imported medicines.
“These steps are critical to improving efficiency, reducing wastage and ensuring the resilience of the healthcare supply system,” she said.
She also urged the public to prioritise preventive care and adhere to prescribed treatments to better manage rising healthcare costs.
Experts warn that without comprehensive reforms, ongoing global uncertainties could continue to threaten the sustainability of Malaysia’s healthcare system.
