In a recent news report, it was highlighted that cough, fever, and antibiotic medicines will be among the most affected products due to their heavy reliance on imports using the US dollar.
Amrahi Buang, the President of the Malaysian Pharmaceutical Association, shared concerns with the newspaper, stating that the weakening ringgit would hamper Malaysia's ability to procure raw materials necessary for drug production. The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine further compounds the situation.
"The pricing of medicines is closely tied to the costs of active pharmaceutical ingredients required for their manufacturing. Additionally, the expenses related to pharmaceutical excipients, which are non-active ingredients used in the formulation of pharmaceutical doses and are vital to drug production, contribute to the overall costs, in addition to logistics expenses," explained Amrahi.
He also highlighted the additional cost incurred in transporting medicines to Sabah and Sarawak. While drug prices are currently stable, Amrahi cautioned that they are likely to increase if the ringgit continues to weaken.
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