The rapidly rising cost of drug therapy is a concern to healthcare providers throughout the world, particularly as new drugs frequently offer only marginal improvements over existing therapies but at substantially increased costs. This makes the decision-makers at all levels faced with difficult choices about which drugs to make available to their patients. One means of controlling costs is the development of a formulary, resulting from explicit decision-making to include or exclude particular medications from the range of drugs available to be prescribed.
The Ministry of Health Drug Formulary consists of all the drugs approved by the Ministry of Health Drug List Review Panel. It is the official formulary for all drugs and pharmaceutical preparations approved for use in the hospital/ Institution and clinics in the Ministry of Health, with the stipulated conditions, where applicable .It serves as a guide to the professional/drug committees at the hospital/ Institution, district or clinic level in the selection of drug therapy and for the development of own local formulary.
The Ministry of Health is committed to safe, rational and cost effective use of therapeutic substances, which are the principles of quality use of medicines. This formulary provides the policy and administrative approach to control, promote and encourage rational, safe and cost effective drug prescribing and usage in the Ministry of Health.
It is not meant to restrict but controls the introduction of new drugs until there is a satisfactory amount of experience gained with their efficacy and toxicity and evidence-based document their medical benefits and added value. This will allow providers to provide the most effective drug therapy possible within the available resources leading to better utilization of resources and makes pharmaceutical products more affordable. The fund provided can be set aside for the purchase of drugs that are optimally used which lead to a better control in drug expenditure.
The drugs in the formulary are listed in their non-proprietary names (generic names). Brand names are included only as a reference. The drugs are coded for identification using the Malaysian Drug Code (MDC), which is based on the WHO Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) Classification system. Those drugs currently listed in the National Essential Drug list are marked as NEDL. Drugs listed in the ‘Approved Purchase List’ and supplied by the concession company are marked as APPL.
The formulary is updated routinely to ensure a comprehensive, evidence-based and dynamic list of drugs are available in the Ministry of Health. The Ministry of Health Drug List Review Panel will meet two to three times per year to consider proposals received from state/institution drug committees. The Ministry of Health Drug List Review Panel is made up of senior consultants and pharmacists in the Ministry of Health and is assisted by 17 Technical Drug Working Committees from the various specialized disciplines in the Ministry of Health in reviewing and evaluating the request.
The electronic version of the MOH Drug Formulary is in the intranet link, which is updated regularly after each drug review panel meeting. A simpler version of the MOH drug formulary for the public is available at the Pharmaceutical Services Division, Ministry of Health website, www.pharmacy.gov.my.
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