SEBERANG JAYA: The government has saved more than RM900 million over the past two years by prioritising the use of generic medicines across public and private healthcare, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said today.
He said the “generic first policy” ensures that whenever a generic version of a medicine is available, it becomes the preferred option for prescription.
“The policy delivers substantial fiscal savings without compromising patient safety or treatment outcomes, stressing that generic medicines approved for use in Malaysia undergo rigorous testing, including bioequivalence studies.
“Generic medicines are clinically equivalent to original branded drugs. Cost savings do not come at the expense of quality or patient safety,” he said after the opening of the new Seberang Jaya Hospital building here.
Implemented during the current administration’s second term, the policy aligns with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s broader push to strengthen value-for-money spending, particularly in high-cost sectors such as healthcare.
Beyond reducing drug expenditure, the policy represents a deliberate attempt to shift prescribing behaviour among clinicians and to build public confidence in generics, long viewed by some patients as inferior to branded alternatives.
Dr Dzulkefly urged medical professionals, including specialists and general practitioners to fully embrace the approach, describing it as a necessary cultural change within the healthcare system.
He said the Health Ministry continues to collaborate closely with the Public Works Department to monitor the progress of hospital projects nationwide, noting that some projects, including the Putrajaya and Papar Hospitals have experienced delays exceeding a decade.
The opening of the Seberang Jaya Hospital was officiated by Anwar and attended by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
Earlier in his speech, Anwar described the opening of the new Seberang Jaya block as a deeply sentimental moment, recalling his involvement in the hospital’s development more than three decades ago.
He noted that the hospital began operating under a cluster concept in the 1990s, and at that time, he personally invited his longtime friend, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, to officiate the facility.
“Although it is called a new block, in reality, it is an additional hospital facility at Seberang Jaya. After 30 years, I return to officiate it, and it is truly an emotional moment,” he said during the ceremony.
The construction of theSeberang Jaya Hospital multi-storey building was part of the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP), Rolling Plan 2, with a total allocation of RM371 million.
The project covers 3.26 acres of land and 45,415 square metres of built-up area, comprising a nine-storey building.
Construction began on May 16, 2016, and was fully completed on April 12, 2025, before commencing phased operations on May 5, 2025.
Anwar said the project took a long time to complete due to several development challenges, but it was finally realised through close cooperation among the Health Ministry, state government, hospital management and contractors.
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