IPOH: It is up to private clinics and hospitals to set the price of the influenza vaccine as it is not under the category of controlled medicine, Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye said.
“The cost of influenza vaccines at private clinics and hospitals is not under controlled medicine and it is up to the company which sells (it) and doctors who buy the vaccines. There is no monopoly in terms of supply.
“There are several companies that supply the vaccines, and private clinics and hospitals can choose to buy from companies which offer the vaccine at lower prices,” he told reporters after visiting the Bijih Timah Health Clinic here today.
Dr Lee said the process to make vaccines takes about six months and the company which imports the vaccine would take several weeks to allow the consignment to arrive here.
He said it was normal to face a shortage of influenza vaccine at private hospitals and clinics due to influenza epidemic nationwide.
On a separate note, Dr Lee said the ministry welcomed Kemubu Agricultural Development Authority (KADA) chairman Datuk Husam Musa’s suggestion to use lemongrass stalks as drinking straws to replace plastic ones.
“It is a good suggestion, but it is not compulsory to do so. We will consider the suggestion, but the decision will only be made by the cafe and canteen operators in the hospital,” he said, adding that the ministry needed to look into the function of the lemongrass straw and its cost.
On Wednesday, Husam said KADA was willing to supply the lemongrass to those who wanted to take up the suggestion as lemongrass has 27 varieties and it is ideal as a drinking aid.
He said KADA would plant more lemongrass and it estimated that 10,000 lemongrass had been planted in Kampung Padang Halban in Kelantan.