Patient access scheme applications held over

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 16 (Bernama) -- The Patient Access Scheme (PASc) application process is being temporarily deferred pending a standpoint from the National Audit Department, said Health Director-General Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah. 

The PASc is offered by pharmaceutical companies to the Ministry of Health (MOH) to help patients gain access to drugs, especially the pricey ones.

“We are worried the free packs go against ethics and raise integrity issues as it is not reflected in detail in purchase records between the pharmaceutical companies and MOH facilities,” said Dr Noor Hisham in a statement today.

He said guidelines for the implementation of the PASc were drawn up on June 1 to streamline the application process and to ensure the proposal papers for PASc by pharmaceutical companies fulfil all the requirements, he said.

Existing schemes will continue as normal at MOH facilities. The Ministry doesn’t object to the giving out of free packs as long as caveats are observed.

Dr Noor Hisham said the MOH is committed to ensuring patients get access to the medicine they need.

His comments come following an article which appeared in two news portals recently about the PASc applications being held over.

-- BERNAMA