Why is the Health Ministry seeking input from the National Audit Department?

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The Health Ministry is seeking input from the National Audit Department regarding the integrity of civil servants in accepting free medication packs.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has temporarily suspended the Patient Access Scheme (PASc), a program where pharmaceutical companies provide expensive new medications not available in public hospitals free of charge. This suspension is in effect "until further notice" and follows a decision made after a meeting on August 9th involving the Ministry's Pharmaceutical Services Programme and the Director-General of Health. The MOH has formally communicated this hold on all PASc applications to pharmaceutical companies.
Concerns Over Civil Servant Integrity and "Gifts"

A letter from Dr. Kamaruzaman Saleh, director of the Health Ministry’s Pharmacy Practice & Development Division, indicated that the division was tasked with obtaining views from the National Audit Department concerning the integrity of civil servants in accepting free drug packs. This suggests the ministry is examining whether these provisions align with ethical guidelines for government officials, particularly in the context of drug procurement.
Industry Source Interpretation of the Scheme

An industry source explained that the MOH is currently categorising the PASc as a potential violation of government ethics and integrity guidelines, akin to an improper "gift" or incentive. This interpretation has been met with concern, as it risks negatively impacting patients' access to vital and potentially life-extending treatments that are otherwise unavailable through public healthcare channels.
Implications for Patient Access

The suspension affects both incoming PASc applications, which are on hold, and pending applications, which have been denied. The long-term status of current PASc programs remains uncertain. Pharmaceutical companies like Roche Malaysia have previously reported providing access to life-saving medications for thousands of cancer patients through such schemes since 2007, highlighting the critical role PASc has played in bridging gaps in the MOH Medicines Formulary.

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Why is the Health Ministry seeking input from the National Audit Department?

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