Published by CodeBlue

PhAMA says its earlier statement on IJN’s switch to generics erroneously implied that this may compromise patient safety. PhAMA clarifies it was referencing IJN’s critically ill patients, saying a sudden change may not be advisable without clinical reason.

8 Nov – The Pharmaceutical Association of Malaysia (PhAMA) regrets that an earlier statement, published in CodeBlue on October 29, 2024, on the government’s directive to Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) to switch to generic medications as a cost-containment measure, has been taken out of context.

The statement had erroneously implied that the decision may compromise safety in patients’ treatment.

Briefly, the statement was in specific reference to IJN’s patient load, which mostly comprise critically ill patients, many with comorbidities, who are already stabilised on their existing treatment regime. As such, a sudden change may not be advisable without clinical justification by attending physicians.

In a meeting with the Ministry of Health (MOH) yesterday, PhAMA members were provided more clarity on the government’s future direction, with assurance that treatment safety and efficacy would remain topmost priority, while balancing financial considerations.

Any interchangeability or substitution of generic medicines will be done with prior consultation with a patient’s physician. In the treatment of high-risk patients where the benefits of using innovative medicines outweigh the risks and costs, MOH may consider using innovative medicines, even after patent expiry.

PhAMA recognises that generics and biosimilars have an equally important role to play in the health care system, in view of rising health needs and an increasingly ageing society. With health care costs on the rise, generic medications provide affordable alternatives in sustaining the health care system, especially for the public sector.

The National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency, under the auspices of MOH’s Pharmacy Services Programme, had been vigilantly monitoring medication registrations in the country, ensuring the safety and quality of all medicines registered have undergone rigorous bioequivalent (BE) studies.

Meanwhile, PhAMA urges IJN to meet impacted pharmaceutical companies as soon as possible to discuss on the status of existing contracts and provide more clarity on the way forward.

This would reduce speculation and confusion in media reports, and allow smooth transition of medicine change for patients and health care providers at IJN.

The Pharmaceutical Association of Malaysia (PhAMA) regrets that an earlier statement, published in CodeBlue on October 29, 2024, on the government’s directive to Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) to switch to generic medications as a cost-containment measure, has been taken out of context.

The statement had erroneously implied that the decision may compromise safety in patients’ treatment.

Briefly, the statement was in specific reference to IJN’s patient load, which mostly comprise critically ill patients, many with comorbidities, who are already stabilised on their existing treatment regime. As such, a sudden change may not be advisable without clinical justification by attending physicians.

In a meeting with the Ministry of Health (MOH) yesterday, PhAMA members were provided more clarity on the government’s future direction, with assurance that treatment safety and efficacy would remain topmost priority, while balancing financial considerations.

Any interchangeability or substitution of generic medicines will be done with prior consultation with a patient’s physician. In the treatment of high-risk patients where the benefits of using innovative medicines outweigh the risks and costs, MOH may consider using innovative medicines, even after patent expiry.

PhAMA recognises that generics and biosimilars have an equally important role to play in the health care system, in view of rising health needs and an increasingly ageing society. With health care costs on the rise, generic medications provide affordable alternatives in sustaining the health care system, especially for the public sector.

The National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency, under the auspices of MOH’s Pharmacy Services Programme, had been vigilantly monitoring medication registrations in the country, ensuring the safety and quality of all medicines registered have undergone rigorous bioequivalent (BE) studies.

Meanwhile, PhAMA urges IJN to meet impacted pharmaceutical companies as soon as possible to discuss on the status of existing contracts and provide more clarity on the way forward.

This would reduce speculation and confusion in media reports, and allow smooth transition of medicine change for patients and health care providers at IJN.

The Pharmaceutical Association of Malaysia (PhAMA) regrets that an earlier statement, published in CodeBlue on October 29, 2024, on the government’s directive to Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) to switch to generic medications as a cost-containment measure, has been taken out of context.

The statement had erroneously implied that the decision may compromise safety in patients’ treatment.

Briefly, the statement was in specific reference to IJN’s patient load, which mostly comprise critically ill patients, many with comorbidities, who are already stabilised on their existing treatment regime. As such, a sudden change may not be advisable without clinical justification by attending physicians.

In a meeting with the Ministry of Health (MOH) yesterday, PhAMA members were provided more clarity on the government’s future direction, with assurance that treatment safety and efficacy would remain topmost priority, while balancing financial considerations.

Any interchangeability or substitution of generic medicines will be done with prior consultation with a patient’s physician. In the treatment of high-risk patients where the benefits of using innovative medicines outweigh the risks and costs, MOH may consider using innovative medicines, even after patent expiry.

PhAMA recognises that generics and biosimilars have an equally important role to play in the health care system, in view of rising health needs and an increasingly ageing society. With health care costs on the rise, generic medications provide affordable alternatives in sustaining the health care system, especially for the public sector.

The National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency, under the auspices of MOH’s Pharmacy Services Programme, had been vigilantly monitoring medication registrations in the country, ensuring the safety and quality of all medicines registered have undergone rigorous bioequivalent (BE) studies.

Meanwhile, PhAMA urges IJN to meet impacted pharmaceutical companies as soon as possible to discuss on the status of existing contracts and provide more clarity on the way forward.

This would reduce speculation and confusion in media reports, and allow smooth transition of medicine change for patients and health care providers at IJN.