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Shifting subjects of health-care: placing "medical tourism" in the context of Malaysian domestic health-care reform

Ormond M

Asia Pac Viewp, 2011;52(3):247-59.
PMID: 22216474

"Medical tourism" has frequently been held to unsettle naturalised relationships between the state and its citizenry. Yet in casting "medical tourism" as either an outside "innovation" or "invasion," scholars have often ignored the role that the neoliberal retrenchment of social welfare structures has played in shaping the domestic health-care systems of the "developing" countries recognised as international medical travel destinations. While there is little doubt that "medical tourism" impacts destinations' health-care systems, it remains essential to contextualise them. This paper offers a reading of the emergence of "medical tourism" from within the context of ongoing health-care privatisation reform in one of today's most prominent destinations: Malaysia. It argues that "medical tourism" to Malaysia has been mobilised politically both to advance domestic health-care reform and to cast off the country's "underdeveloped" image not only among foreign patient-consumers but also among its own nationals, who are themselves increasingly envisioned by the Malaysian state as prospective health-care consumers.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Care Sector/economics; Health Care Sector/history; Health Care Sector/legislation & jurisprudence
Access to safe legal abortion in Malaysia: women's insights and health sector response

Low WY, Tong WT, Wong YL, Jegasothy R, Choong SP

Asia Pac J Public Health, 2015 Jan;27(1):33-7.
PMID: 25452590 DOI: 10.1177/1010539514562275

Malaysia has an abortion law, which permits termination of pregnancy to save a woman's life and to preserve her physical and mental health (Penal Code Section 312, amended in 1989). However, lack of clear interpretation and understanding of the law results in women facing difficulties in accessing abortion information and services. Some health care providers were unaware of the legalities of abortion in Malaysia and influenced by their personal beliefs with regard to provision of abortion services. Accessibility to safer abortion techniques is also an issue. The development of the 2012 Guidelines on Termination of Pregnancy and Guidelines for Management of Sexual and Reproductive Health among Adolescents in Health Clinics by the Ministry of Health, Malaysia, is a step forward toward increasing women's accessibility to safe abortion services in Malaysia. This article provides an account of women's accessibility to abortion in Malaysia and the health sector response in addressing the barriers.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Care Sector/organization & administration
Fulltext COVID-19 outbreak and sectoral performance of the Australian stock market: An event study analysis

Alam MM, Wei H, Wahid ANM

Aust Econ Pap, 2020 Nov 27.
PMID: 33349733 DOI: 10.1111/1467-8454.12215

The outbreak of COVID-19 has weakened the economy of Australia and its capital market since early 2020. The overall stock market has declined. However, some sectors become highly vulnerable while others continue to perform well even in the crisis period. Given this new reality, we seek to investigate the initial volatility and the sectoral return. In this study, we analyse data for eight sectors such as, transportation, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, energy, food, real estate, telecommunications and technology of the Australian stock market. In doing so, we obtain data from Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) and analysed them based on 'Event Study' method. Here, we use the 10-days window for the event of official announcement of the COVID-19 outbreak in Australia on 27 February 2020. The findings of the study show that on the day of announcement, the indices for food, pharmaceuticals and healthcare exhibit impressive positive returns. Following the announcement, the telecommunications, pharmaceuticals and healthcare sectors exhibit good performance, while poor performance is demonstrated by the transportation industry. The findings are vital for investors, market participants, companies, private and public policymakers and governments to develop recovery action plans for vulnerable sectors and enable investors to regain their confidence to make better investment decisions.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Care Sector
Fulltext Improving the effectiveness of service delivery in the public healthcare sector: the case of ophthalmology services in Malaysia

Foo CY, Lim KK, Sivasampu S, Dahian KB, Goh PP

BMC Health Serv Res, 2015;15:349.
PMID: 26315283 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-015-1011-0

Rising demand of ophthalmology care is increasingly straining Malaysia's public healthcare sector due to its limited human and financial resources. Improving the effectiveness of ophthalmology service delivery can promote national policy goals of population health improvement and system sustainability. This study examined the performance variation of public ophthalmology service in Malaysia, estimated the potential output gain and investigated several factors that might explain the differential performance.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Care Sector
Fulltext Differential diffusion of pharmaceutical innovations in a mixed market middle - income economy

Md Hamzah N, See KF

BMC Health Serv Res, 2021 Oct 19;21(1):1119.
PMID: 34663311 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-021-06786-6

BACKGROUND: Policymakers are faced with the challenge of balancing patient's access for effective and affordable medicines to sustain the rising healthcare costs. In a mixed healthcare market such as Malaysia, coverage decisions of new medicines are different: public funded health system has a formulary listing process whereas for private sector, which is a market-based economy, depends on patient's willingness to pay and insurance coverage. There is little overlap between public and private healthcare service delivery with access to new innovative medicines, as differentiated by sources of funding. The objectives of this study were to examine the diffusion of New Chemical Entities (NCEs) into the public and private healthcare market between 2010 and 2014, and determine the factors explaining the diffusion.
METHODS: We matched medicines from the product registration database by medicine formulation to medicines in IQVIA National Pharmaceutical Audit database for each year. The price per Defined Daily Dose (DDD), market concentration and generic utilization share variables were calculated. A panel fixed effect model was performed to measure diffusion of NCEs for each year and test possible determinants of diffusion of NCEs for overall market and sector specifics.
RESULTS: The utilization of NCEs was larger in the private sector compared to the public sector but the speed of diffusion over time was higher in the public sector. Price per DDD was negatively associated with diffusion of NCEs, while generic utilization share was significantly regressive in the public sector. Market concentration was negatively associated with utilization of NCEs, however result tends to be mixed according to sector and Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) category.
CONCLUSIONS: Understanding key aspects of sectoral variation in diffusion of NCEs are crucial to reduce the differences of access to new medicines within a country and ensure resources are used on cost effective treatments.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Care Sector
Fulltext Modelling the Mediating Effect of Health Care Healing Environment on Core Health Care Delivery and Patient Satisfaction in Ghana

Amankwah O, Weng-Wai C, Mohammed AH

Environ Health Insights, 2019;13:1178630219852115.
PMID: 31217690 DOI: 10.1177/1178630219852115

Objective: The multifaceted nature of health care delivery has led to the need to incorporate strategies that will help to enhance performance and maintain the quality of the health care environment. However, even though dedicated health care staffs contribute to patients' satisfaction of health care delivery, the health care environment must ensure the safety and well-being of patients. Like most developing countries, many public hospitals in Ghana are faced with challenges in the area of health care healing environment. Therefore, this article investigates the mediating effect of health care healing environment between health care core business and patients' satisfaction.
Method: This is a cross-sectional study involving adult patients of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Tamale Teaching Hospital, and Cape Coast Teaching Hospital in Ghana. A questionnaire survey based on the 'A Staff and Patient Environment Calibration Toolkit (ASPECT)' dimensions and health care core service dimensions was used to collect data from 622 patients. SmartPLS was used to analyse the data collected.
Results: The findings of the study show that the quality of health care healing environment mediates the relationship between patients' satisfaction and all of the constructs under the core health care delivery.
Conclusion: Stakeholders of the Ghanaian health care sector should take initiatives to constantly improve the quality of health care healing environment as it has an influence on patient satisfaction of the overall core health care delivery.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Care Sector
Corporate social responsibility and patient's intention to revisit: A serial mediation study witnessing the healthcare sector

Aman-Ullah A, Ali A, Mehmood W, Fareed M, Aman-Ullah A

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2023 Feb;30(8):22078-22088.
PMID: 36282374 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-23760-9

The present study aims to identify the impact of corporate social responsibility on patients' intention to revisit the healthcare industry. Furthermore, mediating the role of patient satisfaction and patient loyalty along with serial mediation through corporate social responsibility = > patient satisfaction = > patient loyalty = > intention to revisit was also tested. The present study is quantitative in nature, while the data for the study was collected using purposive sampling from 321 patients working in eight hospitals in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan. For the data analysis, statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) and structural equation modeling through the partial least square approach (smart-PLS v 3.3.9) were employed. The study results show that corporate social responsibility forms a significantly positive relationship with patient satisfaction, patient loyalty, and patient intention to revisit. Study findings confirmed the mediating role of patient satisfaction and patient loyalty. Furthermore, serial mediation through patient satisfaction and patient loyalty was also confirmed. In the current competitive environment, understanding the direct and indirect effects of CSR activities on patient satisfaction, patient loyalty, and intentions to revisit is of the utmost importance for hospitals. These activities provide hospitals with the opportunity to take certain actions to improve patient satisfaction, and these actions increase their loyalty, which in turn encourages their intention to revisit.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Care Sector*
Orthopaedic surgeons and the device industry: skeletons in the closet

Poduval M

Indian J Med Ethics, 2011 Apr-Jun;8(2):97-102.
PMID: 22106619

The relationship between orthopaedic surgeons and the device industry is one that is mutually beneficial and productive. However there are skeletons in the closet. The financial implications of this relationship have come under intense scrutiny. The sponsorships and the financial benefits of this symbiotic relationship have been found to cross the boundaries considered acceptable to ethical practice of the profession. In India, the ethical transgressions resulting from unhealthy associations between the orthopaedic surgeon and the industry have yet to be given due importance. Adequate rules and regulations are yet to be enforced and self-regulation is practically non-existent. It is essential to deal with the problem and potential implications that can arise from this kind of misconduct at the organisational level and enforce them for compliance.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Care Sector/ethics*
Health care development: integrating transaction cost theory with social support theory

Hajli MN, Shanmugam M, Hajli A, Khani AH, Wang Y

Inform Health Soc Care, 2015 Dec;40(4):334-344.
PMID: 25068990 DOI: 10.3109/17538157.2014.924950

The emergence of Web 2.0 technologies has already been influential in many industries, and Web 2.0 applications are now beginning to have an impact on health care. These new technologies offer a promising approach for shaping the future of modern health care, with the potential for opening up new opportunities for the health care industry as it struggles to deal with challenges including the need to cut costs, the increasing demand for health services and the increasing cost of medical technology. Social media such as social networking sites are attracting more individuals to online health communities, contributing to an increase in the productivity of modern health care and reducing transaction costs. This study therefore examines the potential effect of social technologies, particularly social media, on health care development by adopting a social support/transaction cost perspective. Viewed through the lens of Information Systems, social support and transaction cost theories indicate that social media, particularly online health communities, positively support health care development. The results show that individuals join online health communities to share and receive social support, and these social interactions provide both informational and emotional support.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Care Sector
Fulltext Aftermarket Performance of Health Care and Biopharmaceutical IPOs: Evidence From ASEAN Countries

Komenkul K, Kiranand S

Inquiry, 2017 01 01;54:46958017727105.
PMID: 28853306 DOI: 10.1177/0046958017727105

We examine the evidence from the long-run abnormal returns using data for 76 health care and biopharmaceutical initial public offerings (IPOs) listed in a 29-year period between 1986 and 2014 in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Laos. Based on the event-time approach, the 3-year stock returns of the IPOs are investigated using cumulative abnormal return (CAR) and buy-and-hold abnormal return (BHAR). As a robustness check, the calendar-time approach, related to the market model as well as Fama-French and Carhart models, was applied for verifying long-run abnormal returns. We found evidence that the health care IPOs overperform in the long-run, irrespective of the alternative benchmarks and methods. In addition, when we divide our sample into 5 groups by listing countries, our results show that the health care stock prices of the Singaporean firms behaved differently from those of most of the other firms in ASEAN. The Singaporean IPOs are characterized by a worse post-offering performance, whereas the IPOs of Malaysian and Thai health care companies performed better in the long-run.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Care Sector/statistics & numerical data*
Fulltext Muslim female healthcare personnel dress code: a proposed guideline

Saidun, S., Akhmetova, E., Awang Abd Rahman, A.

International Medical Journal Malaysia, 2018;17(2):57-70.
MyJurnal

Introduction: The struggle of Muslim women to comply with Islamic teaching while working in the healthcare sector has been a long-standing issue. Following the case of a Muslim nurse who was allegedly fired for non-adherence to the short-sleeve uniform rule, the Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association highlighted the need for a uniform guideline to prevent similar instances. Yet, no guideline has been issued to date. Materials and Methods: This conceptual study employed library research method to gather relevant materials. Library research was able to retrieve guidelines from seven Muslim-minority countries but none from Muslim-majority countries. Document analysis of the materials gathered was undertaken. The different guidelines were compared, with special reference to awrah-related issues. Results: Several major issues that healthcare personnel dress code considers are the safety, health, cleanliness, and comfort for both patients and healthcare personnel. Islamic dressing requirement is not only in line with clinical practice but Islam also highly promotes maintenance of safety, health, cleanliness, and comfort. The widely adopted ‘bare below the elbows (BBE) policy is the only practice that may contradict Islamic rules. However, some healthcare institutions in Muslim-minority countries allow modifications of uniform rules on religious grounds; some of the modifications are not observed in Muslim-majority countries. When providing direct patient care that requires BBE, the use of disposable over-sleeves is a good alternative to adhere to both clinical and Islamic standards. Conclusion: Healthcare personnel dress code policy that is concordant to both clinical and Islamic standards is possible although it may require greater resources.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Care Sector
Fulltext The Inter-Relation of Corporate Social Responsibility at Employee Level, Servant Leadership, and Innovative Work Behavior in the Time of Crisis from the Healthcare Sector of Pakistan

Ahmad N, Scholz M, Arshad MZ, Jafri SKA, Sabir RI, Khan WA, et al.

Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2021 04 27;18(9).
PMID: 33925322 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18094608

Organizational crisis can serve as a base to provide an opportunity to an organization for enhancing individuals, organizations, and communities. The healthcare sector is one of those sectors that remains under continuous pressure to provide high-quality service delivery to the patients. Hence, the requirement of innovation for this sector is huge when compared to other sectors. The majority of the previous studies have investigated the phenomenon of CSR at the employee's level (CSR-E) to influence employee behavior positively. However, the importance of CSR-E to enhance the innovative capability of the employees at the workplace is not well-explored in extant literature. Moreover, it is not clear from previous studies how the concept of servant leadership can explain the employee's engagement towards innovative work behavior (EIB). Thus, the current survey aims to test the relationship of CSR-E and EIB in the healthcare sector of Pakistan with the mediating effect of servant leadership. The data of the current study were obtained through a self-administered (paper-pencil) survey and they were analyzed through the structural equation modeling (SEM) technique. The empirical results of SEM analysis revealed that CSR-E and EIB are positively related and servant leadership partially mediates this relationship. The findings of the current study will be helpful for policymakers to improve their understanding towards CSR-E to induce EIB in the time of crisis. At the same time, the current study also highlights the importance of servant leadership to the policymakers in encouraging the employees to display their innovative capability at the workplace to serve their organization during the time of crisis.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Care Sector*
Fulltext Grey System Theory in the Study of Medical Tourism Industry and Its Economic Impact

Dang HS, Nguyen TM, Wang CN, Day JD, Dang TMH

Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2020 02 04;17(3).
PMID: 32033177 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17030961

The Asia-Pacific region is known as a favorite destination for global medical travelers due to its medical expertise, innovative technology, safety, attractive tourism destination and cost advantage in the recent decade. This study contributes to propose an approach which effectively assesses performance of medical tourism industry based on considering the economic impact factors as well as provides a conceptual framework for the industry analysis. Grey system theory is utilized as a major analyzing approach. According to that, factors impact on the sustainable development of medical tourism in Asia-Pacific region could be identified. The performance of each destination in this region was simultaneously revealed. The results presented an overall perspective of the medical tourism industry in the scope of the Asia-Pacific region, and in Taiwan particularly. Data was collected on six major destinations including Singapore, Thailand, India, South Korea, Malaysia and Taiwan. The results proved that tourism sources and healthcare medical infrastructures play a crucial role in promoting the healthcare travel industry, while cost advantage and marketing effectiveness were less considered. In addition, performance analyse indicated that Thailand has a good performance and stands in the top ranking, followed by Malaysia, India, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan, respectively. The revenue of Taiwan has increased slowly in the last six years, with a market worth approximately NT$20.5 billion, and the number of medical travelers is expected to increase to 777,523 by 2025. The findings of this study are expected to provide useful information for the medical tourism industry and related key players in strategic planning.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Care Sector
Fulltext Patients' Intention to Adopt Fintech Services: A Study on Bangladesh Healthcare Sector

Hassan MS, Islam MA, Sobhani FA, Hassan MM, Hassan MA

Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2022 Nov 19;19(22).
PMID: 36430018 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192215302

Advancement in technology has facilitated the shift toward new financial services. Numerous industries have undergone a digital transformation because of the expansion of cashless payment systems and other cutting-edge technologies. This study aimed to identify the factors that stimulate the patient's intention to adopt fintech services in the Bangladesh healthcare sector. To facilitate the study, data were collected through survey questionnaires from different hospitals and diagnostic centers patients. A total of 279 patients responded to the survey. The study employed structural equation modelling to analyze the data using SMART PLS 3.2.9. The results revealed that a significant relationship exists between perceived ease of use, social influence, facilitating conditions, personal innovativeness, and perceived trust in fintech services, and the adoption intention of the patients. The results of the study are beneficial to the healthcare sector and fintech companies who wish to make necessary arrangements to advance the growth of cashless fintech-based transactions.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Care Sector
A report on needle stick injuries for the year 2000

Lim JF

Journal of Occupational Safety and Health, 2004;1(2):82-88.
MyJurnal

Workers in the health care industry and related occupations are at risk of occupational exposure to blood borne pathogens, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and other potentially infectious agents. The primary route of occupational exposure to blood borne pathogens is accidental percutaneous (through the skin) injury. Health care workers handle sharp devices and equipment such as hypodermic and suture needles, intravenous blood collection devices, phlebotomy devices, and scalpels. Health care workers with the most involvement in direct patient care e.g., nursing staff, sustain the highest proportion of reported NSIs (needle stick injuries).

Matched MeSH terms: Health Care Sector
The relationship between work-life balance, the need for achievement, and intention to leave: Mixed-method study

Dousin O, Collins N, Bartram T, Stanton P

J Adv Nurs, 2021 Mar;77(3):1478-1489.
PMID: 33314305 DOI: 10.1111/jan.14724

AIMS: To examine the mediating role of employee well-being on the relationship between work-life balance practices, the need for achievement and intention to leave among nurses in Malaysia.
BACKGROUND: Work-life balance practices are associated with employee perceptions of the need for achievement and well-being which subsequently influence their intention to leave the organization. This study contributes new knowledge to nursing studies on work-life balance in an Asian and Islamic society where the expectations for women are to focus on family rather than career.
DESIGN: A cross-sectional, explanatory mixed methodology.
METHODS: This is a two-phase study conducted between 2015-2017 with 401 nurses in East Malaysia. In Phase 1, researchers surveyed 379 nurses to test eight hypotheses and in Phase 2 researchers interviewed 22 nurses to explore the results of Phase 1.
RESULTS: Phase 1 revealed job satisfaction mediates the relationship between work-life balance practices (e.g. flexibility and choice in working hours, supportive supervision), financial success, and intention to leave. However, life satisfaction and money as a motivator did not mediate such relationships. Phase 2 identified four important factors that cast light on survey results: working conditions of Malaysian nurses; inadequate compensation in the public healthcare sector; team-based practices; and pressure on senior nurses in both administrative and clinical roles.
CONCLUSION: This is one of the first studies to investigate work-life balance issues among nurses in Malaysia. Outcomes of this study extend the debates on work-life balance and employee well-being in an Asian Islamic social context.
IMPACT: The use of flexible working arrangements and collectivist teamwork approaches, improving compensation and employment benefits and eliminating the 'time-based job promotion' policy may help to mitigate work-life balance issues and intention to leave among nurses in Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Care Sector
The bactericidal potential of LLDPE with TiO2/ZnO nanocomposites against multidrug resistant pathogens associated with hospital acquired infections

Harun NH, Mydin RBSMN, Sreekantan S, Saharudin KA, Basiron N, Seeni A

J Biomater Sci Polym Ed, 2020 10;31(14):1757-1769.
PMID: 32498665 DOI: 10.1080/09205063.2020.1775759

The emerging polymer nanocomposites have received industrial interests in diverse fields because of their added value in metal oxide-based nanocomposites, such as titanium (TiO2) and zinc oxide (ZnO). Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE)-based polymer has recently generated a huge market in the healthcare industry. TiO2 and ZnO are well known for their instant photocatalytic killing of hospital-acquired infections, especially multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens. This study investigated the actions of LLDPE/TiO2/ZnO (1:3) nanocomposites in different weight% against two representative MDR pathogens, namely, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Klebsiella pneumonia (K.pneumoniae). Antibacterial activities were quantified according to international standard guidelines of CLSI MO2-A11 (static condition) and ASTM E-2149 (dynamic condition). Preliminary observation via a scanning electron microscope revealed that LLDPE matrix with TiO2/ZnO nanocomposites changed the bacterial morphology and reduced the bacterial adherence and biofilm formation. Furthermore, a high ZnO weight ratio killed both types of pathogens. The bactericidal potential of the nanocomposite is highlighted by the enhancements in photocatalytic activity, zinc ion release and reactive species, and bacteriostatic/bactericidal activity against bacterial growth. This study provides new insights into the MDR-bactericidal potential of LLDPE with TiO2/ZnO nanocomposites for targeted healthcare applications.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Care Sector
A structural equation modeling approach for the adoption of cloud computing to enhance the Malaysian healthcare sector

Ratnam KA, Dominic PD, Ramayah T

J Med Syst, 2014 Aug;38(8):82.
PMID: 24957398 DOI: 10.1007/s10916-014-0082-5

The investments and costs of infrastructure, communication, medical-related equipments, and software within the global healthcare ecosystem portray a rather significant increase. The emergence of this proliferation is then expected to grow. As a result, information and cross-system communication became challenging due to the detached independent systems and subsystems which are not connected. The overall model fit expending over a sample size of 320 were tested with structural equation modelling (SEM) using AMOS 20.0 as the modelling tool. SPSS 20.0 is used to analyse the descriptive statistics and dimension reliability. Results of the study show that system utilisation and system impact dimension influences the overall level of services of the healthcare providers. In addition to that, the findings also suggest that systems integration and security plays a pivotal role for IT resources in healthcare organisations. Through this study, a basis for investigation on the need to improvise the Malaysian healthcare ecosystem and the introduction of a cloud computing platform to host the national healthcare information exchange has been successfully established.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Care Sector/organization & administration*
Fulltext Association between medicine Price declaration by pharmaceutical industries and retail prices in Malaysia's private healthcare sector

Ahmad NS, Hatah E, Makmor-Bakry M

J Pharm Policy Pract, 2019;12:15.
PMID: 31304021 DOI: 10.1186/s40545-019-0176-z

Background: As part of the initiatives to increase price transparency for consumers, pharmaceutical industry in Malaysia have been encouraged to declare the wholesale and recommended retail prices (RRP) of medicines to the Pharmaceutical Service Department (PSD) yearly. However, the relationship between the voluntary price reporting practices and consumers' retail medicine price is unknown. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effect of the voluntary price reporting practice of pharmaceutical industry on retail medicine prices, factors that may affect consumer medicine prices in Malaysia's private healthcare sector, and the retail medicine pricing trend over 2011-2015.
Methods: A yearly correlation test for a 5-year period was performed to investigate the association between the wholesale and RRP medicine prices declared by the pharmaceutical industry from 2011 to 2015 on the one hand and the consumer wholesale and retail medicine price database on the other hand. The median price ratio (MPR) was calculated by comparing the consumer retail medicine price to its international reference price. The Krukal Wallis test was used to analyse the pricing trend throughout the 5-year period, and factors that might elevate the MPR above 2.5 were modelled using binary logistic regression.
Results: A total of 2527 medicine price data were analysed. There was a strong significant association between medicine prices declared to the PSD and the retail medicine prices in every year of the 5-year period. Moreover, there was no significant increase in retail medicine prices throughout the 5-year period. The medicine types, retail location, type of manufacturer, medicinal indications, declared wholesale and RRPs significantly influenced the consumer MPRs that where > 2.5.
Conclusion: The declared medicine price was found to have a significant association with the consumer retail medicine price. Thus, it may be a useful reference for consumers purchasing medicines in private healthcare settings. However, the government of Malaysia must develop strategies to increase medicine price transparency for price-control mechanisms in the private healthcare sector.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Care Sector
Fulltext Public and private sectors collective response to combat COVID-19 in Malaysia

Tan CS, Lokman S, Rao Y, Kok SH, Ming LC

J Pharm Policy Pract, 2021 May 03;14(1):40.
PMID: 33941265 DOI: 10.1186/s40545-021-00322-x

Over the last year, the dangerous severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread rapidly around the world. Malaysia has not been excluded from this COVID-19 pandemic. The resurgence of COVID-19 cases has overwhelmed the public healthcare system and overloaded the healthcare resources. Ministry of Health (MOH) Malaysia has adopted an Emergency Ordinance (EO) to instruct private hospitals to receive both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients to reduce the strain on public facilities. The treatment of COVID-19 patients at private hospitals could help to boost the bed and critical care occupancy. However, with the absence of insurance coverage because COVID-19 is categorised as pandemic-related diseases, there are some challenges and opportunities posed by the treatment fees management. Another major issue in the collaboration between public and private hospitals is the willingness of private medical consultants to participate in the management of COVID-19 patients, because medical consultants in private hospitals in Malaysia are not hospital employees, but what are termed "private contractors" who provide patient care services to the hospitals. Other collaborative measures with private healthcare providers, e.g. tele-conferencing by private medical clinics to monitor COVID-19 patients and the rollout of national vaccination programme. The public and private healthcare partnership must be enhanced, and continue to find effective ways to collaborate further to combat the pandemic. The MOH, private healthcare sectors and insurance providers need to have a synergistic COVID-19 treatment plans to ensure public as well as insurance policy holders have equal opportunities for COVID-19 screening tests, vaccinations and treatment.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Care Sector

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