Is It Safe To Buy Cheap Medicine From Malaysia - Without A Prescription? | Talking Point
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- Опубліковано 11 чер 2024
- Millions of Singaporeans travel to Johor Bahru every year for good food and even better bargains. But for some it’s the promise of cheaper medication that’s driving them across the Causeway, alongside easier access to prescription drugs. In this episode, host Steven Chia travels to Malaysia to find out if there are any risks involved, and if these meds are just as good as their more expensive counterparts?
00:00 Cheaper in Malaysia than Singapore?
02:55 Can I get prescription meds over the counter?
05:28 Why is medication so much cheaper in Malaysia?
10:15 Do generic medicines work as well as branded ones?
16:52 Cheap medicine delivered to your doorstep
18:22 Testing potency of generic and delivered medicines
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The question shouldn't be why is it cheaper in Malaysia, but why is it insanely overpriced in Singapore.
Why don't ask the same line of question as to petrol. Just cross the bridge and the petrol price is RM$3.47 for RON 97 there but in Singapore is S$3.55 for RON 98 which is over RM$12.50 per litre?
Who did the locals in Singapore voted for?😆😆😆
Clever Singaporeans no need to ask : GST increases 10%, staff salary 3 times higher than in Malaysia, rent is international rate, power and water is many times more than the 3 cents it imports and many more hidden cost like rocket high COE for delivery vehicles, petrol and even carbon tax. Government must also ensure that it runs a surplus budget (ie profitable in business parlance). Or if it runs a deficit or spent more, must tax more to top up for future generation.
What a ridiculous question. Go stay in Malaysia and earn Malaysian salary and see if you still think these Malaysian medicine is ridiculous underpriced. Don’t make sweeping assumptions without thinking through.
@@pheunthaiit is underpriced because Malaysians can go to government clinics or hospitals and get branded medicines for RM1. Similar situation in Australia but do you see that happening here in SG??
It is killing people when medicine are not saving people but let people have option to choose. Very bad.
Im a Malaysian. We have been using these medicines for all our lives for 33 millions people. All pharmacies are governed by the MOH. They are very safe as long as u buy them from a reputable one.
There are medicine that considered as Under Controlled and still required for doctor prescription. This kind of medicine, you need to get from the hospital directly or need some doctor's letter. In Malaysia, even if people don't have insurance, they still have right to be treated and get treatment from the government hospital unless people wanna go to private hospital, but if you have money, why not? In overseas, usually everyone needs to have insurance to get treatment. I've been living in UK for few years, but Malaysia medical system, I would say way much better.
Generic drugs...buy the one made in Malaysia because they need to follow the guidelines. From India....50:50.
Im Indonesian and I buy medicines from Malaysia, in legal store and never got fake medicine, because the medicine has result better than Indonesia's because indo medicine sometimes I got allergic
@@dolphin338 They are using substandard generic ingredients. Because those made in Malaysia, they need to complete stability and efficacy test. Hence why I believe the future for Malaysia Generic Drugs manufacturing space is bright.
We are very lucky in Malaysia because our pharmacists here only ask us if we are their members. They give us loyalty points.😊
We dont have to go to any doctor to get any medications.
Most of the medications we can get even though they have a sticker called Controlled Medication😂😂 according to the Health Ministry
We should find out why Singapore is selling generic medicines at such a high price and why are the authorities allowing profiteering by the pharmaceutical companies in Singapore
Smaller market. Duh
Don't complain. You voted for this. 🙂
Singaporeans are making so much more, you guys can definitely afford to suck it up
It is more expensive here, cos its very strict, needs doctor prescription.
Not just medicine. Even milk powder for children, every brand in Singapore is profiteering 🤬
The right question is not why medication in Malaysia is cheaper but why Singapore government in conspiracy with pharma companies locating here are allowed to price medications a lot higher than the rest of the world. Medication in First world countries is still cheaper tgan Singapore
Exactly
Unfortunately, it seems that money, or the love of money is the driving factor in Singapore.
just like the USA did to their own people
Sg policies also forces you to consult doctors before you can get pharmaceutical grade medicines for treatment on common illnesses. Otc are filled with useless relieve drugs like panadols.
Why locals need to pay more? Or else how ministers and their cronies in pharma med can be making millions of dollars per person yearly?
You locals voted or this!😆😆
As a clinic owner in Singapore, we are also puzzled as to why is our cost of prescription drugs even higher than the selling price of the same thing in Malaysia
To feed and give you income. Try to understand how your country is shaped and built up using what kind of methods and philosophy. You will be able to understand it with ease when you think a bit deeper in these areas and aspects.
You need to study in order to have a licence to practice and operate in life and it is also one way to exchange for a higher level of income as professionals.
The scale of the economy in Singapore is small due to the natural limits in her space and population number compared to developed nations hundreds of times bigger than Singapore.
Everyone took up studies and exams and more people become graduates and professionals but not enough of you venture out to earn your salaries or develop anything groundbreaking that can bring in vast revenues to Singapore so how to create and gather money to feed and support you all?
Think on it.
The answer is already given to you. .
In order to create jobs and let those in their respective profession have enough to earn and spend all things in Singapore have to be jack up and then the higher up the executives are the more they can nibble out of it.
Insurance agents.
Housing agents.
Doctors.
It is all the same.
Higher cost but zero innovation. Too much profiteering. Singaporeans should start question the corruption in their govt and healthcare industry. As a Malaysian, it's just mind-boggling.
@@anglo-saxonconnor817 That's a good way to explain why GST has to keep going up, prices of water and power and bus fares have to go up. It's a no-brainer explanation. Every time you think something can or must work, just raise the price or fee.
@@coffeemug3009 Money or profit is never enough. Better to question Najib, Mahathir or Naim.
TLDR The answer is yes, it's safe.
Thanks! Im out! 😂
the meds are safe but without doctor's follow up
you won't know your actual condition and do you still need that medicine or not
that's the dilemma that people are concern about
@@alien13579 you don't really need doctors' opinions on basic ass drugs
... provided you don't buy them online, that is.
@@wallstreetzoomer that doesn't seem like "basic ass" drugs when it's high cholestrol medicine, diabetes medicine and steroid cream
if the experiment is about buying paracetamol thn you can call it "basic ass" drugs that doesn't need doctor's opinions but the experiment doesn't even include the purchase of paracetamol
I am a senior Malaysian.For the past 6 years I have been to government hospital for my check up
Every 6 months for my BP,cholesterol,HB1Ac and uric acid. Procedure includes blood test and medication.Also include colonoscopy and ECG.I am not a government servant.Best part all free of charge including medication 😂.Those medicines are generic made in Malaysia.No issue no side effect.Medical issue under control. All these procedure done within 2 hours. Malaysia boleh.
This is one of the stories untold about Malaysia. Both my late parents were very well taken care of my the MOH public polyclinics. They refused to go to private clinic even when we wanted them to for convenience as there is always a queue.
Malaysian public healthcare is affordable (RM5 per visit = consumption + drugs). One of the best in the world. Not my words. Go Google.
My Malaysian relatives complain how long the waiting time for government subsided hospital lei.
From my understanding it works like the medical system in Singapore. It's not free. Your medical government insurance paid together with your cpf contributed a portion to it.
You really think your current Malaysia government so rich to the point they allow everyone in Malaysia to get free medical treatment and medication meh???
Please lah in 2023, my aunt was asked to discharged until they save me enough money for her cancer treatment. Tell her if she needs she can go apply government aid. But hospital refuse to let her stay a night longer.
@@phoenixstar6096 Which hospital is that?
@@phoenixstar6096 My mom was admitted into gov hospital for bone marrow disorder...also consider as cancer since she had to go thru chemotherapy and bone marrow transplant. She had no insurance coz she had thyroid problems before and SOCSO also refuse to compensate her. She later got a referral letter from a doctor in Sunway hospital to be transferred to the Ampang Hospital and get treated there for years. They probably prioritize patients with more critical condition as my mom was having very low levels of haemoglobin in her blood.
Although it's not free but the charges is very very reasonable for cancer treatment which could cost up to hundred thousands+ if being treated at private hospitals, some private can't even perform the surgery as they lack the equipment and profesional doctors...she's a taxpayer so can consider she already contributed her part
The waiting time is of course longer since the charges are so minimal and the people here have so much of illness due to their unhealthy lifestyle...
U want to save money then you compensate it with time, and vice versa.
Bringing my sister to a gov clinic and taking medications only cost us RM1 whereas we can easily get charged at least RM50 for going to private clinics in Klang valley.
@@phoenixstar6096 yes Malaysian govt hospitals are slow af. But for sure it's super cheap than private.
Malaysia healthcare are among the best in the world. If you are willing to pay in Malaysia, you could go yo a hospital looks like museum. Some hospital in KL has grand piano inside. Good for someone who afraid of visiting hospital anxiety. Meanwhile Malaysian not able to afford for health care they can get it treated for RM1 or get free medication from the government hospital.
Grand Piano. Thats sunway hospital. One of the best healthcare provider in malaysia
Malaysia MOH/KKM is super strict in regulating and selling medicines, and there haven't been any wrongdoings (corruption) involving medication dispensing. And yes, Malaysians are lucky to get free medicines and insulins from govt hospitals.
you didn't watch the whole video didn't you?
@@alien13579which part are you referring to? I would still prefer to buy in Malaysia and then follow up regularly with the doctor. That's also what they imply at the end
The locals in Singapore did not ask for FREE medicine or even treatment, the locals just hope they were not screwed by the PAP to pay so much more for their medicine back in Singapore.
no wrongdoings? have you heard of pharmaniaga? 🤣
If Malaysia create a ban to ban Singaporeans to buy life saving meds in Malaysia i will remember this show and what cna have done. Cb.
I'm Malaysian, and I can't wait for Malaysia to ban Singaporeans from buying our cheap meds and cheap petrol. Like, if ur govt fucked u up, why not change your govt lah. How long more u want PAP to squeeze you dry?!!
There is a high possibility that this will happen since Malaysia Government want to cut financial costs for now.
It may result in the pharmacies asking for doctors note. Then everyone's medical cost goes up, both Malaysians and foreigners. Because instead of seeing a doctor once a year, now have to see every 6 months to get an updated note. If the note is lost, have to see doctor again. Doctors cannot really decide the continuation of medicine use without tests. So each time, besides paying for consultation, also have to pay for tests. This usually requires minimum 2 visits, so transportation cost goes up too. The result is patients suffer more.
@@hann659 healthcare is free in Malaysia. Just get a doctor's note if pharmacy requires it. You can easily book an appointment with a doctor months ahead too. Btw, everything is digitalised now, so if ur note is missing, need not worry because it is already in the database. Both the public and private sectors are digitalised. This is not 1990s. It won't drive up the price coz it is free to begin with. Also, if the cost of pharmacy goes up, the Rakyat can still get it for free in government hospitals/ clinics. I feel like this is more of a Singapore problem because you have been living with a corporatised, capitalistic healthcare system all your lives, thus you can't comprehend a socialised, universal healthcare looks like.
That be like the Canucks banning Americans from buying their insulin...
Don't forget in Singapore, you need to pay your doctor too to get a prescription first. Highway robbery
It's the same now in Malaysia, you have to pay high consultation fees to the GP which I protest.
Private need to pay .. gov only 1 ringgit. Specialist hospital gov 5 ringgit
If need MC then I go clinic, if no then I just go to the nearest pharmacy to treat myself. Complicated disease local clinic usually cannot handle, and need to visit hospital.
@@mrblurblur2003 u do know GP need to pay their staff and electric bill right? those are not free u know, the consultation fee are regulated by MOH/KKM, be realistic, its a business end of the day
You dont see doctor how you know you need the medicine? If its severe enough that you are going to need presciption medicines and not just panadol and rest, at least consult a medical professional. Anyth acute oso you are better off just seeing in singapore and getting medicines here. All done in a few hours vs u in pain/discomfort cross causeway go pharmacy buy medicine come back. All that just to save a few bus fare.
As an expat lived in Malaysia for 6 years, yes it's safe.
Yes. They are of the same brand. Singapore's meds prices are higher due to many layers of middlemen, costs of Dr's prescription , high rental, high fuel/transportation costs, gst, etc.
Axactly, people who asking why it's cheaper in Malaysia is just brainless.
Government should look at reducing the layer and reduce the transfer cost.
@@PennyChan1...no , the brainless part is you. The ppl voted for this , to be slowly killed by the very own system that they voted for and this you cannot even understand!
Reduce cost will affect jobs. @@popocucu4829
I live and work in UK. OTC medications are much cheaper here than in Sg, surprisingly. Because they are generic (supermarket brand), but equally effective. Crazy to see people in Sg pay for Panadol when paracetamol cost mere cents
my doctors nor dentist in KL nvr give panadol haha
dont forget that embassy staff goes to jail because he smuggled panadol .. LOL
@@Y3llow_Submarin3 go to gov clinic.
$2 for strip of panadol got me another headache 😂
I prefer naproxen, which is stronger😂😂😂😂
As long as the medicines are approved by MOH, and buy them from the pharmacies, they are safe. Lack of enforcement is too common in Malaysia.
Most Malaysians getting free medicines from the government hospitals and clinics.
#metoo#
Malaysians are lucky. They get free medicines or pay just a token sum to get medicine from government clinics.. Just a small bottle of eye-drop already cost about $35.00.
@@westwoodly The only plus point I give to Malaysia is almost free medical treatment and free medicines. My elder brother paid RM 90 only for a heart balloon insert operation in the public hospital. Of course his waiting time is six months, but is still within safety period. Private hospital wanna RM 30K minus bedding and other professional service fees. A single day private hospital room charge is RM 1500 to 2000. RM50K is a conservative estimate for using private hospital service.
Of course it is not safe to buy CHEAP medicine from third world country Malaysia. But what choice does the poor pSingaporeans have? Their money or their lives? Live without money or die rich?
@@saufi2514 Erm, Malaysia ain't third world, however, it is not first world either. It's stuck in between, therefore the term "developing nation".. You can criticize the Msian gov and everything else, but the Healthcare system in Msia is considerable very reliable. Those "CHEAP" medicine are the same medicine you can get in Singapore.
I typically like CNA videos. This time, though, I find it funny. If Singapore is concerned, Singapore can ban Singaporeans from buying medicine from Malaysia. End of story. No need to semi-blame Malaysia...
Then Singaporeans must ban PAP every election
This video is making Ordinary Singaporean live harder if Malaysia enforcement get tough on Singaporean, now they can buy 3 times cheaper medicine in Malaysia then buying it in Singapore don't know for the future.
If Malaysian authorities found out Singaporeans have been stocking up local medicines, we may require IC if you want to buy drugs. 😏
Kindly provide the evidence that this video or cna blame Singaporean from buying from Malaysia
In fact i view it as this video telling Singaporean go Malaysia buy cheaper
@@jly5828actually i got experience buying Malaysia medicine. My own cousins working in sg are Malaysian and i accompany them go jb eat, Spa, shop and buy medicines too.
Few years ago already got limit liao. My cousin only buy 3 months supply and we go in at least once a month.
Even Australia and South Korea sells certain medication which is much cheaper than in Singapore. I do think so long as we buy from pharmacies in jb, they are fine. What I don’t understand why prices are generally quite high in Singapore even for basic medications like painkillers and throat sprays
Prices are high just like f&b industry....rental, overheads and manpower drives everything up.
@@shem44 shouldnt complain. High salary, good exchange rate. Must travel abit to save money.
It makes no sense for CNA to produce this program at first place. All Singaporean should not buy in Malaysia at first place if you believe everything in Singapore is the best. Don't ever cross the border with the sense of superiority and yet take advantage of all the affordable resources in Malaysia, if 33 millions Malaysian are taking the medicines without problem, why Singaporean question about that?
One word: hypocrisy.
Singapore think too highly of themselves, but their govt run the country like a corporation & treat their citizens as voiceless puppets. They are only 'first world' because PAP govt has made SG a hub for money laundering, I mean bank and finance industry, meanwhile many Singaporeans don't earn enough to live a decent lifestyle because they are forced to compete with foreign migrants who dgaf abt SG and its people.
I think they are not questioning us, but rather exploring the price differential and if quality has been compromised in order to sell cheaper. In fact cna has validated our homegrown generic drugs manufacturers. I am not sure if singapore encourages pharmaceutical companies to produce generic drugs in sg. It may go some way to providing cheaper alternatives to branded drugs.
@@bisaboleh if not wrong the homegrown ODMs make only stuff like "panadol", and the cough syrups (like those in NS Camp medics and for children...) all common necessities drugs almost none of the more exotics...
@@bisaboleh of course it is not safe to buy CHEAP medicine from third world country Malaysia. But what choice does Singaporean have? Their money or their lives? Die rich or live poor?😂😂😂😂
@@saufi2514 Maybe you should blame your SG Pharmaceutical companies instead.. You look down on Msia, and yet still wanna come over for cheaper resources.. Why?
Well, good that these Malaysian generics are effective and safe
CNA put out a documentary abt cheaper medicine in Msia but has not done enough to ask why even generic meds are priced too high in SG. The documentary left many questions in viewers' heads but no answers. So why open this Pandora's box?
Why not open the box? Imagine taking out a loan just to get generic meds.
Drug manufacturers will price the products differently based on the income of countries. Singapore is one of the richest country per capita in the world, so what you expect?
Monopoly by certain company
In case you dont know, most medicines are sold much cheaper in 3rd world and developing countries. Ironically even though Malaysia is a developed nation, it is considered as a “developing nation” to WHO, hence it receives medicine for very affordable prices to sell to their citizens. That’s why they can afford to give medications for free to the elderly and much cheaper for their citizens.
@@reeeyou i dont think Malaysia is anywhere near the status of developed country, not by income or by infrastructure. Malaysia have been trapped in the middle income for decade.
Trip to JB always include stocking up on common meds cos it's just so ridiculously expensive in SG. Eg, things like zyrtec, leftose, piriton, fedac, clarithin, lozenges etc etc.. I go SG GP sometimes get charged $60 but get barely enough meds to recover, and everytime I'm sick it's another 60-70 bucks down the drain. It's a no brainer to get the drugs from MY pharmacy to self medicate common cold symptoms since that's probably what the GP will prescribe anyway.
Why do you think everyone in the supply chain drive continental cars and stay in private housing while the poor are struggling to make ends meet? That’s the sad reality in Singapore.
Well, did those locals in Singapore...VOTED FOR THIS?
They sure did!😆😆😆
Singporeans have been scammed
For nearly 60 yrs plus buying a property called HDB while in truth, they are only renting it!😆😆😆
I have seen many Singaporeans buy medications in Thailand from drugstores (e.g. Boots, Labs). Because almost all medications in Thailand are OTC(over-the-counter). No prescription is needed. In addition, Thailand is a medical tourism country. Therefore, medications here are good. But you should know where to buy them.
I buy prescriptive and non prescription meds from Msia all the time. There is no problem and non generic meds work as well. Also price varies due to forex.
I buy some medicines from UK too on Ebay UK. The med can be cheaper than buying in Jb too :)
@@jefflim7020 but if prescription type sometime ebay will stuck at customs
For Indonesia,imported medicine are very expensive as well because of import tax. So we go Malaysia buy also. But the price in Indonesia is not as expensive as SG 😂
I go to the government hospital and get my grandmother's medication for rm1. I get a supply for 30 days. No questions asked.
same like my father, for his heart medication which cost thousands few boxes. but he paid rm1 lol.
My cholesterol medication is expensive in Singapore. I have checked prices in different countries, and strangely, it's cheaper in Australia, even with a prescription factored in
As a doctor that working in JB, i would say its the Malaysia currency that is weak . For me, all human anatomy and physiology its the same , its only about patient's choice .
Not really,maybe Malaysia import tax is low. In Indonesia import tax very high,so imported medicine are expensive,we even go to Malaysia to buy. If generic stuffs then Indonesian cheaper than Malaysia.
Thanks again Steve and the Talking Point team for addressing this important topic. So helpful!
Actually not only drugs but generally everything in SG is overpriced.. its much cheaper overseas than here honestly. Especially this year onwards, 2024, it hits real hard.
9% GST hitting Singaporean wallet hard.
Who did the locals voted for?😆😆😆😆
@@jly582861% don’t think so leh
We, Indonesians, have been doing that for decades. Medicine in Malaysia is even cheaper than Indonesia, some could reach up to 30% cheaper, that is just insane.
Have you not included the travelling cost as well
@@eilahhamdin9668 of course we have, it is pretty cheap to fly there from my city, we usually buy the drugs that will last for months.
medicine and various necessities in Malaysia are cheaper, the price is much different even it is the same brand as sold in Singapore.. smart buyers and consumers will definitely choose goods and things that are beneficial for them.. if they can get something at a cheap price then why not need to spend more to get the same item..that's the individual's right and choice👌
Nothing wrong from buying over in Malaysia. In sg, everything is inflated😅😅😅😅
I hope Singapore Government does not start banning this in Customs now!
If they do that. They will be banned in every election
If PAP do so Ordinary Singaporean will switch to vote PSP/WP easily
Yes exactly like they did with petrol years ago
My optician gets his customers' spectacles done in Malaysia and send it back to Singapore too.
You can get RM80 specs at Sungei Wang KL. Add better lenses can still get below RM200.
There are many 1st world citizens eg US who have hard time accessing medical prescription. It is a blessing that Malaysia, despite being economically poorer provided this access to her citizens who needs it. It may also not be cheap for us because we work and pay taxes here. In future, the govt should enforce ID or passport over the counter to ensure only Malaysians get the cheaper cost with subsidy while foreigners should pay what the normal rate is.
They hv to redifine the meaning of poor and rich then
Drugs at outside pharmacies are not subsidized. Government hospitals and clinics DO check IDs of patients, and foreigners are treated, but subject to higher fees. The "problem" you want solved is already solved long ago.
TOTALLY AGREE!!!
SG pricing is ONLY about profit and profit..there is nothing wrong or medicine quality, it's the same
Thank To That Singapore Military, Facility, And Infrastructure On Good Condition While Malaysia Military, Facility,And Infrastructure In Poor Condition
@@sayfolman7752yet your people get stock up medicine, refill petrol car, eat, shopping, & holiday here. Yes Singapore is top tier country but the people who live there were poor to purchase thia kind of stuff locally
How do you know that? Have you read any studies on efficacy and potency?
What's the problem of being cheap? Maybe we should ask ourselves why are we so expensive? Anything comes to SG become so expensive that it's ridiculous! Looks like this show aimed to stir up something, perhaps to pressure Malaysian gov to tighen up the prescription regulation.
Many clinics in Singapore never store their medicines in cool conditions either. In UK, pharmacies always advise patients that the antibiotic Amoxicillin must be kept refrigerated. However the clinics in Singapore never once advised that. In fact when I mentioned it to the clinic, their staff were unaware! They also sometimes don't dispense medicine with its orignal boxes. Nor do they provide the information sheets of the medicine which are to be found in packaging of medicines, provided by the pharmaceutical companies. It informs the patient of dosage and importantly possible side effects etc.
Augmentin can be stored at room temperature. You can look up product information leaflets online for this information. You may have confused the storage condition for reconstituted Augmentin suspension, which has to be refrigerated, with that of Augmentin tablets.
Pharmacies in Singapore don't dispense with original packaging mostly because of storage space and ease of packing. However in some hospitals the original boxes with all their original contents would also be dispensed. It's not that the pharmacies are withholding information because you can find all this information online anyway.
Read the excellent reply and remember that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
You'll be fine as long as you go to any legit pharmacy in malaysia. They are not allowed to sell unlicensed drugs. Licensed drugs do not contain potentially harmful or banned substances. It's easy to get prescription meds that have little potential for abuse. Try getting some high abuse potential meds or it's precursors, you'll be getting a lot of questions or outright deny selling you unless you have a really good reason.
Malaysian have one of the best public healthcare in the world. So no surprise medicine are great in Malaysia.
Malaysian government mass purchase from the pharmaceutical companies is only 1/10 to 1/5 of retail prices. The price tag is printed on the packaging of free medicines.
Singapore government refuses to provide free medicines because it brings down GDP.
Sg public healthcare is better though
The truth is, Malaysian would still choose private hospitals if their wallet allows it.
?? We have subsidised healthcare for Singaporeans..@@NK_Khoo-Malaysian
@@alyssanaija At least 50% Malaysians switch to public hospitals after covid pandemic. Private hospitals cater more for foreigners especially Chinese Indonesians.
Compare Singapore to Malaysia maybe still can convince yourself cheaper due to exchange rate.
But I was recently in Australia, realise their otc medical products/vitamins such as moisturiser /branded vitamins are almost 50% cheaper than Singapore too
A good example of cna doing something on a subject that no one will give thanks for in life. Singaporeans dont want cna to spoil the market. Malaysians are annoyed cna is poking their nose into their country meds selling practise and safety resulting in them asking Singaporeans not to go in to take advantage of their goods and services and not being thankful and grateful about it at all. Cna backside itchy to do such programs.
I'm Malaysian..I used to work in a pharmaceutical and drug factory and the manufacturing methods and controls were very strict according to SOP standards.
is it ISO tho...
In this era it is safe. Just ensure packaging is sealed and not expired. The pharmacist in Malaysia are quite nice.
I thought Singaporean go to Johor only for the RON95, now it seems like they have a shopping list..
Meds , surgery , alot of things. And wasting food😅
Groceries too
Don't forget the drugs
Also Diesel; TV3 News today highlights one Petrol pump owner selling 500 or 1,000 liter of Diesel to Singaporean Bus Tourist owner!!!😮
anything we can buy we will buy.
Thank you for covering this😊😊
It's good to know the generic ones are as effective as the branded versions.
Meds in Malaysia or Indonesia and even india are indeed way cheaper than Singapore.
Heck basically all asean countries med selling price are way cheaper than Singapore actually. Thailand is also selling very cheap too.
But the problem is how to get a doctor to write a prescription for you to buy your meds at the pharmacy. This is the most headache part.
Some people got lobang. Some people don't which kade buying meds more difficult and challenging.
Get your local doctor to give you a medical report then go to a doctor in the country you intend to buy it from, then get a prescription from them
Why Singapore Health Ministry is not directly negotiating with Malaysian Pharma industry to make these medicines both generic ones and other brands to Singaporeans. Why don’t they do something to reduce the medical expenses to their own people? Or they don’t want to reduce the profits for doctors and pharmacies? As a govt.they can always enforce strict quality control measures? Further, most prescription drug costs are born by the patients, and not paid by Insurance ( or paid by the SG health care). The least the SG Health Ministry should do is to explore this possibility.
Bcoz Singapore is a corporation, cheaper meds to ordinary Singaporeans means no profit for big businesses in Singapore.
Differin gel (for acne treatment) costs $57 in SG (and I need a prescription from a pharmacist), whereas in Malaysia I can get it off the shelve at RM45
You can get even cheaper if you choose adapalene in generic local brand.😂😂
Even if you go to expensive specialist in sg , they will prescribe you generic cheap med by icm
In Malaysia, there is no dispensing separation. That's why you can buy drugs easily. Pharmacists have no authority over the medicine control, which makes it basically no difference of prescription and non-prescription medications. Even if you want to buy antibiotics or tramadol, you can just visit a normal clinic and get a prescription letter easily to buy it in community pharmacy. Besides, I am totally not understood about the term "unsafe" as they are listed drug in Malaysia which have been used by different people from diverse background. If the massive adverse reaction has occurred, the MOH will recall or ban the medicines. Just because you guys are selling it expensive and some of your citizens choose to buy medicines in Malaysia, it doesn't mean it is not safe. You still can review your progress and medical condition with your doctor at a defined period of time. The difference is just the different location that the drug purchased, especially chronic disease management. If don't like it. You guys can just ban your citizens to purchase any medicines in Malaysia in order to safeguard the monetary benefits of pharmaceutical companies in SG.
It is illegal to buy prescription medicines from the pharmacy without doctor note in Malaysia, the medical law is almost the same for both countries the difference is just enforcement
@@jly5828 aiya, prescription meds like anti-hypertensive and diabetes? You want those aunties and uncles tiap tiap kali bring the creased prescription, is it possible? Plus, it is never been enforced before hahaha. The problem is no dispensing separation which makes pharmacist role not being emphasized.
@@jly5828 That's correct. The first time I went to a pharmacy, I showed my prescription for my CVD and diabetes meds. They then put into the system my phone number. Thereafter all I need to do is inform the counter of my phone number and the drugs I need and they double-check in the system and dispense.
@@ivanleong2608nah. Common meds like that can get for Rm1 only at klinik kerajaan when they do their regular checkup
Tramadol is hard to buy at the pharmacies nowadays.
Difflam is a good example - $16 vs RM6!!
I in Malaysia.... Still feel it is expensive 😅
@@rforray8356 who say you mom
Hahaha,I just told my sis who is in sg to go buy difflam in Malaysia to bring to Indonesia 😂😂
This is so true lol
Wow, and I thought Malaysia's difflam is already expensive enough
They are just generic brands. Safe
Tri luma cannot be exposed to high temperature. It loses efficacy and potency when it does so. So the tri luma they are selling you are real it is the storage and transportation that cause the product to lose some of its potency.
same manufacturer, same exact brand. 3 times cheaper. It's not that healthcare is expensive in Singapore. Its Singapore that's expensive.
I am also thinking - do Singaporeans also do this for those who travelled to Batam-Bintan-Karimun (Riau islands) of indonesia ?
Is it safe to eat cheaper food in Malaysia or use cheaper fuel in Malaysia? Well Malaysia has a totally different Cost Structure base compared to us tgat allows its products and services to be cheaper…
As long as its approved by the ministry and not subsidized for poorer section of Malaysian I dont think it would be any problem.
My understanding from the TALKING POINT's concluded to Price War Competition in Malaysia. That means Singapore has less competition thus the middle man and pharmacy can double or triple their earning, maximise the profits from the necessities.
As a Malaysian, I chuckled a little when I saw you sending an email to MY moh expecting a timely reply 😂
You would be lucky if they even reply in the first place lol
Despite being 2 months after you sent it
lol i come across this comment right when he actually e-mailing MY MOH 😂 if he is lucky, he may get a reply a year after
haha..apa2 mau tny..direct KECEMASAN..email??you need wait n wait😂
Well, I did send an email and got a reply. Just that with the reply is the same as no reply. It was about public hospitals not accepting card payments. It took about 5 years for the government to fix this. Now almost all government hospitals are accepting cards. Just that this may have little to do with my email.
@@hann659 was that the COVID forced change? do they accept QR too?
Here in the US you can get many medications that requires a prescription in Singapore OTC. Most of them are generic or store brands, made in India. Also, many prescription drugs are also generic and made in India.
Not just meds and Malaysia. Just comparing Centrum multivitamin prices in SG pharmacies and on Amazon, there's a HUGE difference. 100x Centrum tabs in SG is twice the price of 250x Centrum tabs from Amazon.
See a doctor here, get the prescription, go to Malaysia and fill the prescription there. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.
See a private hospital/ clinic in Malaysia, get medicine in Malaysia, medical tourism is way more cheaper then getting a 100SGD(RM350) in Singapore clinic.
Malaysia's Medicines are good and effective
Indian medicines are cheaper
Malaysia don't have a large pharmaceutical industry. We just import the generics. From India. 😊
@@danielch6662 ysh in the video produce more than 1000 general drugs.
@@danielch6662 depends on what brands
Some of the meds you bought are also no-prescrition in Singapore, for example the antihistamines such as Clarytin or Telfast.
You can buy them also as generics at certain places such as Mustafa pharmacy.
And who buys Rolex-Panadol does not deserve any better. Generica at Mustafa for 65 cents a strip of 10.
Anyway, the health cost in Singapore are increasing rapidly.
Talking Point need to explain why medicine is so expensive in Singapore, not why cheaper in Malaysia.
If they really give the truth....Talking point will be scrapped and Steve Chia will be fired.😆😆😆😆
Talking Point dare not make Singapore companies angry.
Investigate who make profits from patients
@@cac1504 ...investigation will likely lead back to those who started the investigstion!😆😆😆🤣🤣🤣
I don't know, but we, in Canada, don't have a big problem with buying drugs, with our pharmacare subsidy program. Fantastic. As citizens, many of us get medicine gor zero dollars. It is possibly the most humane government program. I have 7 pills, once s day, and another 2 during the day.
You can only imagine how expensive it would be without the program $1600/year, just using generic drugs.
Canadians dont have problem to buy med but Canadians having big problem seeing the doctors!
Yea, but that strictly applies only to drugs. You don't get to see the government doctors and surgeons though, not without applying for a long waitlist. You might be dead before your turn comes up
It really depends on how specialized the surgery is. Brain surgery is not only expensive, but you have to be a very brave surgeon to do it!
Do Singaporeans realise that this video has inadvertently made it much tougher for Singaporeans themselves to buy prescription medicines in Malaysia? In a knee jerk response, there is now a nationwide blitz by Malaysian Enforcement officers on Malaysian pharmacies simply because of the expose in this video, and all Malaysian pharmacies are taking measures to follow regulations more closely, thus severely limiting its availability to Singaporeans whom venture across the causeway for such drugs. In fact, the crux of the problem actually lies with doctors either not prescribing properly or providing patients the wrong information of how they can buy 'outside' without having to responsibly provide for a prescription - sadly those elephants in the room have not been tackled from Day 1, leading to where we are today - sadly, CNA did not see it either in their 'study'
If someone happens to have a heart attack, they need to take a pill.
cannot buy it at that pharmacy because no doctor certificate. The doctor proved that sometimes the paper was not taken out.This video kills people.
Regular reviews by doctor is very important because the required dosage may vary over time. Some body organs may be damaged if wrong amount is taken in over long run.
Doctors aren't trained or equiped to check this. You need a lab, like shown in the video. The machines to check the contents can be very expensive.
Often during doctor’s review, a responsible and qualified doctor would order lab test - blood test/urine test/etc and review the result results and review whether there is a need update medication dosages or change medications, that’s how the doctor REVIEW one’s condition. It’s not checking the contents of the purchased medication that I am referring to.
One thing not mentioned is that in Malaysia, the price of the higher dosage tablet is almost the same price as the lower one for the same brand. For example, Lipitor 80mg is the same price as Lipitor 40mg. In this case, instead of buying Lipitor 40mg, it is cheaper to buy Lipitor 80mg and get a pill cutter.
Not all pills can be cut, some are formulated in a way that if they are cut, their bioavailability or absorption is affected. So pill cutting is not encouraged.
Pls don't do that there's must be a reason why it came in 80 or 40mg tablet 😅
that YSP factory Steven visited produce generic drugs and medicines. They are a Taiwanese company. Been operating in Malaysia for decades. Even some clinics prescribed their medicines here in Malaysia.
YSP produces really really good generics. They produce a lot a lot of different meds but getting approval from our HSA is so tedious and expensive, they don’t bring many of their generics into Singapore. I suspect that’s also the same reason why many generic companies do not bring in or produce their generics anymore. Do you know that ventolin tablets, the most basic and cheapest medicine for asthma have been out of stock in Singapore for many months now. And we call ourselves first world country! Btw these ventolin tablets are readily available in any pharmacies in Thailand.
Singapore prices have always been a rip-off. Cost of living here too high nowadays
For someone like me with an asthma condition & frequently requires an inhaler. It is ridiculous that I have to waste time and additional money to visit a polyclinic every now & then for consultation to get a prescription. Doctors there will only ask stupid questions like why are you not feeling better as if this condition can be cured. Admittedly Inhalers here are cheap at few dollars however it's poor quality & gives off a strong sulfur smell after a period.
A few years back I realized one can easily buy inhaler that is decent branded like Ventolin off the shelf at any Malaysian pharmacy which costs barely $10 here & since then I have been making regular trips to go there. Save much more plus the embarrassment of seeing a GP here.
May I suggest you try a Seretide, 250/50mg per puff that will give you 50 days of preventive of athma. It is made in the UK or US by the well know pharma, GlaxoSmith Inc. the price has increases recently to RM170 (used to be RM150), you can get it from AA, BigPharmacy. It is effective to prevent athma.
In my opinion the video left out a key aspect of buying medicines in Singapore which is the government subsidies that one enjoys when they visit the polyclinics. Most of the medications that were bought could be bought at the polyclinic easily after a doctor's consultation. With the heavy government subsidies (and not to mention being able to use Medisave), would the conclusion be different?
Oh no , next time no more cheap medicine at JB. Thanks CNA for making everyone life more miserable to spend more money on meds in SG
Laughing in Malaysian 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Ban those sinkies from stocking up on our meds and oils.
Im very lucky to be born in Malaysia ❤
Doctors make large profits here in SG. You don’t realise that few docs actually allow you to take the prescription to a third pharmacy to buy?
Its yr own freedom, who are they to stop u?
@@sihanchen7552 So that they can profit more, from the consultation to the medication. Otherwise, they may threaten to withhold your MC. I have personally experienced this before...
@@sihanchen7552Sure you can. But you need to pay first 30-40 dollars for consultation and another 15-20 dollars for the prescription. If you don’t agree to this, you are most welcome to go to another clinic but they will tell you the same thing 😂😂😂
As an ex pharma rep in JB, I can say that the majority of meds bought from our side is the original type.
Also the drugs are screened by our MOH and have to pass regulations as high as Singapore. Healthcare in M'sia does not lose out to that of Singapore. It's just that it's almost free and we rely heavily on generic medication. Our buildings may not look as pretty as those in SG and our facilities maybe a little old and cramped, but our doctors are just as well trained. Maybe our nurses not as friendly as SG la...
Btw, many of SG top specialists and HODs are from Malaysia... Trained here then go there since...you know la....dragon descendents....not princes of the earth.
My advice to Sg shoppers, if you are buying med anything worth a few hundreds ringgits, pls declare it to the sg custom and pay your gst duly.
SHUT THE HELL UP and stick ur advice back up your rear end. We dun need it.
16:02 I like that they did not censor anything and fully disclose all the Names, Type of Medicines and even their Address to everyone here in UA-cam. 🙂
watfuk we need secret for? we are open book.... no need hide here there.... someday cat will out from bag anyway...
@@BomohGetek Please use your brain a little bit more before you post such a reply. Open Book? Do you dare to put your own name, your address and all the medications you take right here? 🙂
"is generic safe as branded", its like asking, is H20 the same like H20 in some other country. if done correctly, its the same staff.
I bought a 200 ml bottle of Gaviscon anti gastric medicine in Singapore some years ago, and it cost me SGD30. The same bottle imported from overseas cost me RM32 in Malaysia. So, its three times cheaper in Malaysia for the same imported medicine. Go figure!
But if you earn in ringgit, it’s no difference. You have compare apples with apples.
@@pheunthai If you look at the cost price of the product, it is probably way below RM32 in order to make a decent profit. So, by selling in Singapore at least 3 times much more expensive, they are making excessive profits from Singaporeans.
Pharmacies in Singapore should just close down. Singaporeans can come to JB and buy whatever medication they need.
No everybody go to buy medicine at JB, elite Singaporean still buy medicine in Singapore only
Then that will drive up the price in malaysia due to increased demand, defeating the purpose of your terrible idea.
@@kelvinpang438 prices would actually come down due to greater economy of scale at the level of manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers. The higher demand can easily be met by local manufacturers. I myself am working in a local pharmaceutical manufacturer and we can easily increase output by 50% within months if the need arises. Basically diverting the Singaporean market to purchase their medications in Malaysia will be a win-win situation for citizens of both countries.
@@brandenburg2388...precisely, with greater volume ,greater demand,, more generic med will even be in the Malaysian market, more local manufacturer, more distributors. The med would similiar in potency to originals , making it even cheaper than current demand.
While the prices of med in Singapore will only keep going up..up..up...of course someone would always use the excsue as 'smaller market' in Singapore but the real reasons are becos it is a monopoly in Singapore for the gov and pharma firms to laugh all the way to the banks!😆😆😆
@@brandenburg2388 there's a thousand different drugs, I doubt your one ODM can handle everything out there with the limited facility space here. Maybe for panadol and the like generic drugs, definitely not for everything.
I live in Shah Alam which is in the suburbs and our small local mall has 3 pharmacies too, outside the mall theres another pharmacy too.
Lol. Shah Alam is the capital city of Selangor, one of the most developed cities in the Federation. We are definitely no one's suburb. 😂
@@wongcw08 it's the capital but I don't think it's as big or as active as the other cities in Selangor compare Shah Alam to Subang or PJ we are quite small, even Bukit Tinggi Klang is much more livelier than Shah Alam. We don't even have a cinema here.
@@shahesfelazi8549 I agree on that. The absence of cinema is due to religion, I believe.
no, cus that area particularly rich boomers.they dont watch cinema@@wongcw08
My friend whose a doc at Singapore always ask their relatives in msia to buy panadols in bulk and bring over to Singapore
There is a reason behind why causeway always jam, shopping heaven for Sinkies
Doc made more on medicine than consultation. If buying via prescription, we are actually paying the margin to Docs/clinics.
You can easily buy them in Bangkok as well.
U are not gonna take a 2-3 hr plane ride from SG to Thailand just to get some drugs will you?
Nice presentation
I'm blessed, living in Malaysia, i only pay MYR5 every 2 months to get a MYR300 worth of meds! Sometimes they give the brand name meds too, like Seroquel XR
CNA go kaypoh for what?? Wait later JB raise their price then you know. Not only medicine cheap, other things like deodorant which bought from shopee (also from malaysia). Is not that CNA is born yesterday right? Once the Sink-a-pore garmen knows about it, they will complain to boleh land, then boleh land just raise the bar to get the same medicine but with 100% or more raise in price liao. It will also cause the medicine price in boleh land to rise and make the life of their citizens even worst. No wonder boleh land don't like us.
hahahaha macam on point je apa dia ckp ni.. like what stay in vegas stay in vegas.
Sure Singaporean come to his neighbouring country buy medicine bcos of their high currency. 😂😂😂😂😂😂. Example is in US their peoples going to Canada getting medicine as much cheaper than their country.
They don't dare to ask the tough question such as " Why are the price so high in Singapore for life saving medication?" or "What is the profit margin for each pill?". We used to have generic cough syrup given by GP in plastic bottle which is quite effective and pills in plastic sealant bag, why now we get named products, don't tell me it is because of storage as those will be consumed quickly in a week? Is the clinics profit from selling these? Even the closing statement is kinda weak.
If it is in Malaysia, there would be nationwide protest, that's why the govt don't dare to mess with bread and butter issue.
I went up to JB yesterday (Mar 7th, 2024), visited a few pharmacies at KSL, Mid Valley and shophouses around KSL Mall area. All DO not sell over the counter now because this show had been watched by the Malaysian authorities and press who questioned the Health Minister's position. Very unwise for Steve to spoil this cheaper avenue of medicines for poorer Singaporeans and those who are tight on budget unintended as it may be.
Medical in sg has been a lucratice business for the medical industry..even sg company and the government buys cheap from malaysia then resell it more expensive to singaporean..i know most clinic and hospital in sg do this..those people who bought for jb is the smart ones..unfortunately those who dont are being fooled by the industry in sg
i guess Singaporeans don't only shake their cars when they're in JB, drug chasers too.
However, i'm quite grateful that meds are relatively cheap in Malaysia. however, the underlying situation is that we need to up our health game . I myself only learn too late for this lesson. I won't get into detail but suffice to say, I've seen our hospitals now, run with many YOUNG patients along with the older folks who you would expect to have these issues such as high blood pressure or maybe, diabetes but I know some friends, in their early 30s, late 20s, that have the same issues.
I think our reliance on Sugar is really one of the major culprits of these silent killer diseases and idk what can be done, but when you visit countries like vietnam or even singapore , people are relatively fit. Our side, not really. Albeit, I haven't been to singapore in a while so idk if that still will be my perception but i do wish we care more on the food intake and also staying fit with sports and exercise.
Man, I would laugh at myself if i told myself this years ago or listen to the elders that warn me the same thing.
We need govt to impose sugar tax & break down the sugar monopoly. I've started to drink sugar free teh tarik, I bring my own stevia to sweeten it.
that's good. I have gotten use to no sugar for coffee and tea but sometimes, i do feel the urge, from time to time so i get it. I can't even take the normal teh c anymore. @@coffeemug3009
In Indonesia, especially for those living near Singapore and Malaysia, we also make purchases from Malaysia. Interestingly, even though our economy of scale is larger, our medications are still more expensive than in Malaysia.
Talking Point please do a comparison episode on SG meds scence. why the same med can be cheaper in other countries - Msia and Thailand? thank you