Research Article Open Access

A Challenge Facing the Malaysian Pharmaceutical Sector: Quality and Affordability of the National Medications

Abstract

Background: Enhancing public satisfaction of the quality and affordability of medicines is an important task in health services. Objective: This study was intended to assess the trust and acceptance of public concerning quality and affordability of locally manufactured medicines in Malaysia. Methodology: A cross sectional study was performed, and a validated Likert scale questionnaire was used in this study. The results were analyzed using the statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 20. A total of 544 questionnaires were collected from three major cities in Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Kota Baru). The respondents aged between 20 and 60 years. Results: Most of the respondents were satisfied with the quality (65.1%) and affordability (66%) of manufactured medicines in Malaysia. Furthermore, (45%) of respondents in Malaysia prefer locally manufactured medicines. However, there is concern about the escalating prices and hence demonstrates the need for price regulation, as asserted by the majority in Malaysia (88.9%). Conclusion: Medicine’s price control is one of the demands declared by Malaysian public. Moreover, majority of public have an opinion that quality of life, quality of medicines and prices are correlated

Abubaker Abdellah Ahmed, Noordin MI, Shaden AM Khalifa, Rafdzah Zaki, Ahmad S Sulaiman, Ali Abedallah and Hesham R El-Seedi

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