The Ministry of Health (MOH) stated that patients with chronic conditions should utilize the Value-Added Services (VAS) to receive medication during the movement control order (MCO) period.
Photo via Astro Awani
According to Health Director-General, Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, patients can obtain their supply by post or via the pharmacy drive-thru, Locker4U or call/SMS-and-grab methods.
"Patients' compliance towards their medication is important and it is to ensure the supply of medicines is not interrupted despite the social distancing required during this MCO period," he said on his Facebook page on Tuesday.
He encouraged patients to use the Medicines by Post (UMP) service as the prescription drugs will be delivered directly to the home without having to visit a hospital or clinic.
The service will be operated by Pos Malaysia and will deliver medicines within the PosLaju collection and delivery area.
Medicines that can be posted are ones that are in the form of tablets and capsules. However, for medicines that cannot be posted such as liquid medicine and medicines that require a specific storage method such as insulin, which needs to be kept in temperatures between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius, Dr Noor Hisham advised patients to use the other VAS options.
He added that the postage costs, estimated to be RM638,000, will be borne by the MOH for three months until June 30th in order to lighten the burden of patients.
Previously, the UMP service would require the patient to pay Pos Malaysia between RM5.30 and RM10.60 upon delivery depending on weight and zone of destination.
Patients can get in touch with the pharmacy at the MOH facility where they received treatment to register for the service. Once the patient meets the criteria, medication will be provided by the pharmacy.
For more information on VAS services, patients can call the National Pharmacy Call Centre (NPCC) at 1800-88-6722 (from 8am – 5pm, Monday – Friday, except public holidays) with enquiries.
By: Amirah Shariffudin
