KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 — Putrajaya will consider a proposal to separate drug dispensaries from clinics only if the country’s healthcare industry has evolved to make it feasible, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said today.

He said his ministry will not make any decision that will “burden the rakyat”, especially if it would lead to additional costs.

“If in (the) future when we have a transformed health system that is different from what we have now, and if it is suitable to implement, maybe then... but for now we have not made any decision,” he said to a supplementary question by BN’s Bagan Serai MP Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali in Parliament.

On February 24, Dr Subramaniam was quoted by local newswire Bernama as saying that the government had yet to finalise a proposal to separate the functions of pharmacies and clinics in the country, and is currently in the process of receiving feedback from the public.

He said his ministry was also in the process of holding dialogues, especially with medical practitioners, to ensure the proposal can benefit the people.

His statement came days after the Malaysian Doctors Club, with a membership of more than 8,000 doctors from private clinics and non-governmental organisations in the medical field, protested the proposal to separate the functions of clinics and pharmacies.

Dr Subramaniam explained today that the proposal to separate dispensaries from clinics was raised by the National Pharmaceutical Control Bureau with the aim of “upgrading” the pharmaceutical industry.

The minister, however, did not elaborate on that point except to say that it would be similar to what is being practised in developed countries like the US and UK.

“But I clearly told the National Pharmaceutical Bureau that we want a different system, and this (system) has benefitted the people.

“One aspect is convenience where they can get their medication from the same place, and also costs are contained to make sure whatever payments made are reasonable,” he said.

Dr Subramaniam noted that the proposal to separate dispensaries from clinics remains on the table, but stressed that it must work in the public’s interests.

“There is nothing wrong with discussions to get different views, but finally the decision will take into account the rakyat because they are the end users,” he said.