KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) today warned that acute shortage in medicine supply will affect the management of patients' healthcare.
Its president Dr Koh Kar Chai told the New Straits Times that the shortage was still manageable for now unless the people and even healthcare businesses started buying in large quantities and hoarding the medicines.
"The shortage of different types of medications is not constant as it varies with the supply and demand fluctuations in the market.
"In general, medications meant for common illnesses like cough, colds and fever are more likely to be affected though we are seeing a shortage of certain specialised drugs as well," he said when contacted.
He added that the shortage was from the suppliers and it would trickle down the chain to the consumers of healthcare.
Earlier, MMA had urged authorities to address shortage of medicine supply in the local pharmaceutical industry fast.
Dr Koh said there was a notable shortage of certain medicines in the market recently.
He was quoted as saying although it was not a new phenomenon, the supply and demand situation must be corrected soon.