Medicine price display regulation: Compound fines to come into effect on Oct 1

The Health Ministry will begin issuing compound fines to private healthcare facilities that fail to comply with medicine price display regulations effective from Oct 1.

For now until Sept 30, the ministry’s enforcement unit will be conducting inspection visits as well as advocacy sessions.

The healthcare facilities that remain non-compliant would be receiving reminder notices.

“However, beginning October 1, 2025, compounds may be issued for repeated offences.

“Full enforcement will commence on January 1, 2026,” the ministry said.

The price display initiative was announced on May 1, for private healthcare facilities and community pharmacies under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering (Medicine Price Labelling) Order 2025 [PU(A) 141/2025], issued under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 [Act 723].

This effort has been undertaken with the cooperation of the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry to enhance transparency and protect consumers from profiteering.

Industry stakeholders – seven medical associations and a private doctor – have opposed this effort and filed for a judicial review.

However there has been no court order to delay the enforcement, thus far.