Govt sets price ceiling for Sinovac, Sinopharm Covid jabs

The government has set maximum retail and wholesale prices for two Covid-19 vaccines: CoronaVac produced by Sinovac and Covilo produced by Sinopharm.

The maximum retail price for CoronaVac Suspension for Injection SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine (Vero Cell), Inactivated with registration numbers MAL21036010ARZ and MAL21046125ACSZ is RM77, while the maximum wholesale price is RM62 per dose.

For Covilo Suspension for Injection COVID-19 Vaccine (Vero Cell), Inactivated with registration number MAL21076098AZ, the maximum retail price is RM61 and the maximum wholesale price is RM49 per dose.

In a joint statement, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin and Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi said the ceiling price would come into effect on Jan 15 under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.

“The enforcement of this order will be carried out by the health ministry’s Pharmacy Enforcement Division,” they said.

Vaccination against Covid-19 is free for residents under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK), but they can also get the vaccine of their own choice for a fee at private hospitals and clinics that have been authorised by the health ministry.

According to the joint statement, the government found that the prices of Covid-19 vaccines offered in the private sector were still high and fluctuating.

It said the maximum price was based on the price of importing the vaccines along with their current market values.

“The maximum retail price will not include the service charge or charges on disposable items incurred during the administration of the vaccines,” it said.

The list and prices of Covid-19 vaccines will be continuously reviewed and improved or eliminated based on an assessment of the current market situation and demand.

The statement said it was compulsory for private health facilities which have obtained approval from the government to offer private purchase vaccination services to display their prices.

“This will allow the public to compare prices and purchase the Covid-19 vaccines at affordable prices,” it said.

The ministers also stressed that strict measures will be taken against individuals or companies that fail to comply with the regulations set under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.

Customers can channel their complaints to the health ministry’s Public Complaints Management System at https://moh.spab.gov.my.