SIBU: The Ministry of Health (MoH) has been urged to be flexible when it comes to determining the medications that can be subsidised.
Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng Jin Ek said flexibility is needed in light of the availability of new medications that may be more suitable for patients.
He made the call following MoH’s recent clarification that only medications listed under the ministry’s Blue Book (Ministry of Health Medicines Formulary) can be subsidised.
“Sometimes you need to be flexible because different patients might need different types of medication.
“Therefore, maybe MoH could consider setting aside an amount to subsidise, especially the B40 families,” he said when met by reporters at his service centre here today.
Chieng shared the case of Yong Chin Ping, a 50-year-old cancer patient, whom he is assisting obtain subsidies for his medication.
“Unfortunately, the request was denied as the medication was not listed in the Blue Book,” he said.
He urged the government to look into the issue as it will help lessen the patient and their family’s burden, including those in the B40 groups.
“The government should be more caring and flexible to allow them (patients) to choose the right medication.
“If the medication they need is not listed inside the Blue Book, patients cannot receive a subsidy,” he said.
Chieng hoped that the issue would be raised in Parliament to bring about a policy change.
