Statement by DAP Secretary General and MP for Bagan, Lim Guan Eng in Kuala Lumpur On 18 July 2012
Liow Tiong Lai Should Help Companies Like B Braun That Manufacture 100% Of Their Products In Malaysia To Sell Their Made In Malaysia Medical Devices And Pharmaceutical Products To Public Health Sectors And Hospitals Without Needing To Go through Middle Men.
Minister of Health Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai Should Help Companies Like B Braun That Manufacture 100% Of Their Medical Devices And Pharmeceutical Products In Malaysia To Sell Their Made In Malaysia Products To Public Health Sectors And Hospitals Without Needing To Go through Middle Men. Liow has chosen to confuse the public instead of clarifying about pharmaceutical companies not being able to sell their products directly to the public sector and hospitals during my second debate with MCA President Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek on 8 July 2012.
However, despite Liow’s assurance that it does not employ the middle-men concept, the pharmaceutical manufacturers cannot sell directly to the Health Ministry even if they manufacture locally in Malaysia. Is this another of Liow’s empty promises when it is middle men that controls the purchase and supply of medicine to hospitals resulting in higher prices and extra cost to the rakyat?
Datuk Seri Liow mentioned that pharmaceutical manufacturers need to apply through the Ministry of Finance before they can sell direct without going through the middle person and that the products must be manufactured in Malaysia. This is simply not true and Liow is engaging in deception and deceit.
His statement does not allay the fears of many pharmaceutical manufacturers and it remains unclear as to how these manufacturers will be able to compete transparently for the public hospitals purchases. B.Braun is a clear example of a medical devices and pharmaceutical manufacturer operating in Malaysia that cannot sell directly to public hospitals. B.Braun has tried to sell direct public hospitals but have been informed that they have to rely on middle-men.
B.Braun has invested almost RM1 billion since it started in 1972 and has provided 4700 jobs in Penang and has recently expanded further its RM300 million facility to cater for further expansion of business in Malaysia. B Braun offers employment to many Malaysians. According to the Star dated 10th January 2009, B.Braun’s former board chairman Prof. Dr. L.G. Braun voiced his concerns that the Federal Government must reform its “outdated” policy prohibiting the sale of pharmaceutical and medical products by multinational corporations in Malaysia.
I will continue to re-echo similar concerns raised by B.Braun two years ago. B.Braun has been a faithful employer and partner of the state so that they will continue to feel welcome in Malaysia. Without a transparent policy, companies such as B.Braun will continue to face uphill challenges which could eventually discourage them from further investing in this country.
I urge other affected pharmaceutical companies to continue to voice their concerns of such unethical crony practices to the Ministry of Health to cut costs. Malaysia needs a more transparent and competitive healthcare environment that will safeguard the well-being of all Malaysians in terms of job creation within the industry as well as affordable pharmaceutical products and medical devices.
LIM GUAN ENG
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民主行动党秘书长及峇眼区国会议员林冠英于2012年7月18日在吉隆坡发表的文告
廖中莱应该协助如贝朗(B. Braun)一样，100%在大马本地生产的公司，以协助他们在不必透过中间人的情况下，直接售卖大马制造的医疗器具及药剂用品给予公共卫生机构及医院。
卫生部长拿督斯里廖中莱应该协助如贝朗(B. Braun)一样，100%在大马本地生产的公司，以协助他们在不必透过中间人的情况下，直接售卖大马制造的医疗器具及药剂用品给予公共卫生领域及医院。但廖中莱面对我在2012年7月8日在与蔡细历辩论的质询之后，选择对公众混淆视听，而不是澄清为何药剂生产商无法直接售卖其产品予公共机构及医院。
然而， 廖中莱信誓旦旦保证没有雇用中间人，可是大马本地生产的药剂生产商仍旧无法直接将产品售卖给卫生部。当确实有中间人掌控医院的药物买卖供需，而导致人民需要承担更高的额外成本及价格的时候，这是否又是廖中莱空头承诺？
廖中莱表示药剂生产商若要免除透过中间人而直接售卖，他们就必须向财政部申请，而且是要在大马生产。这完全是不正确的说法，廖中莱根本是在说谎。
他的言论没有缓解众多药剂生产商的忧虑，这些生产商仍然无法在透明的竞争下争取公家医院的采购。在马来西亚生产医疗设备及药剂产品的贝朗仍旧无法直接售卖其产品予公家医院，就是最明显的例子。贝朗尝试过要直接售卖给公家医院，但却被告知要透过中间人。
从1972年起，贝朗（B.Braun）已经在槟城投资了将近10亿令吉，也提供了4千700个就业机会，并在最近耗资3亿令吉扩充设施，以应付在马来西亚的业务扩展。贝朗提供了很多就业机会给马来西亚人。根据2009年1月10日的《星报》报导贝朗前任主席贝朗教授（Prof. Dr. L.G. Braun）曾经公开表达他的担忧，也既是联邦政府需要改革一些过时的政策，如禁止在马来西亚的跨国公司在我国直接售卖药品和医疗产品的政策。
我会持续重提贝朗2年前作出的担忧。贝朗一直是忠实的雇主，也是政府的伙伴。我们必需让他们继续感觉到他们依然是受到马来西亚欢迎的。若没有一个透明化的政策，大公司如贝朗将继续面对更严峻的挑战，这可能可成为阻止他们在这个国家再投资的跘脚石。
我谨此呼吁其他受影响的药剂公司，继续针对卫生部采纳朋党主义的不道德作法表示关切，以降低卫生部购药的成本。马来西亚需要一个更透明、更具竞争的医疗保健环境，以保障所有马来西亚人的福利，特别是在有关领域的就业机会，以及可负担药物、医药产品及医药仪器方面的福利。
林冠英