This study reviews privatization effect of Malaysian drug distribution system on prices of cardiovascular and blood products. After privatization prices show variable pattern, increased to (5%) after a year of privatization, decreased to 0.098% in 1997-2000 and again increased to 80% in year 2001-2003. The increase in prices after privatization could not be correlated with inflation rate and was not explained by any pricing mechanism. Comparison with International Reference Prices showed tremendously higher prices for most of the drugs. The findings invite enacting of price control mechanisms and adapting a reference and differential medicine pricing system to curb public expenditures. [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-HAWORTH. E-mail address: Website: 2005 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.]
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Zaheer Babar (2006) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched one closely related paper. Consider it for comparative context: