With global concerns rising over supply chain disruptions due to the ongoing Middle East conflict, Malaysia’s Ministry of Health (MOH) has urged the public not to panic.
In a recent statement, MOH said the country’s medicine supply remains stable for now, with only minimal short-term impact expected from the conflict.
Has up to 5 months’ worth of supplies
MOH revealed that healthcare facilities nationwide are holding between one to three months’ worth of medicine stock based on usage.
On top of that, there is an additional buffer of up to two months at the concession company level for medicines supplied through the logistics system.
Altogether, this means Malaysia has several months of supply on hand, giving authorities some breathing room even if global disruptions worsen.
To ensure things stay under control, MOH is continuously monitoring supply through existing systems, including reports submitted by Product Registration Holders (PRH) via the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA).
As of March 22, there has been no increase in reports of medicine supply disruptions, suggesting that the situation remains stable on the ground.
The ministry added that local manufacturers currently have enough raw materials to last up to three months, with finished products lasting around two months.
Importers are also keeping a close eye on their supply chains to prevent any unexpected shortages.
Task force formed to safeguard essential medicines
As an added precaution, MOH has set up a dedicated task force involving pharmaceutical industry players and key stakeholders.
The focus is to closely monitor supply levels and ensure continued access to critical medicines, especially those listed under Malaysia’s National Essential Medicines List.
For now, MOH maintains that Malaysia’s medicine supply is under control but will continue to monitor the situation closely as global developments unfold.
