Kuala Lumpur, 6 May 2025 — The representative of the Consumer Choice Centre (CCC) Malaysia, Tarmizi Anuwar, welcomed the government’s initiative to introduce the display of service and medication prices at private health clinics and community pharmacies. This move is an important step toward enhancing transparency, protecting consumer rights, and increasing consumer choice.
However, CCC is of the view that implementing this regulation under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 (Act 723) is inappropriate and could negatively impact the quality and competitiveness of healthcare services in the long term.
Easier Cost Comparison
With prices displayed openly, consumers can more easily compare the cost of services, thereby increasing transparency and encouraging healthy competition among service providers. This will pressure clinics and pharmacies to offer more reasonable prices without compromising quality.
“When prices are displayed openly, consumers are no longer left in uncertainty. They can make better-informed decisions and avoid hidden charges,” said Tarmizi Anuwar.
Act 723 is not appropriate, implement under Act 586
Nevertheless, he has emphasized that the price display regulation or the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering (Price Marking for Drugs) Order 2025 is not suitable under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 (Act 723). This order is more geared toward controlling the prices of essential goods and profiteering, not managing the more complex structure of the healthcare services market.
There is significant risk if the regulation continues to be placed under this act, as it may lead to medicine shortages, stifle innovation or a decline in the quality of healthcare services due to pressure to reduce prices.
In this regard, he suggested that the regulation be reviewed under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 (Act 586), which is more appropriate for addressing issues related to private healthcare facilities.
“Controlling medicine prices through a price control order will stifle innovation and investment in the private healthcare sector and cause widespread shortages. In the long run, it is the consumers who will suffer — not through cheaper prices, but through deteriorating service quality,” he explained.
Consulting Fees Should Be Market-Based
In addition, commenting further on the review of consultation fees, he urged that consultation fees should not be set by the government, whether as a minimum or maximum rate. Fee pricing should be determined by the market, based on factors such as service quality, doctor expertise, and location.
This will encourage the private sector to be more competitive, thereby offering consumers a broader range of choices. A competitive private sector will also help reduce pressure on the public healthcare system by providing more service options and reducing consumer waiting times.
CCC supports a market-based public health approach that emphasizes transparency, consumer choice, and healthy competition. Price transparency is essential, but it must be implemented within the appropriate legal framework to avoid compromising access, quality, and investment in the private healthcare sector.
