Publication: Patient Satisfaction with Medication Pricing in Community Pharmacy Settings and Perceptions of Medicine Pricing Policy: A Cross-sectional Study on Individuals with Comorbidity
| dc.contributor.author | Amelia Ravindran | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-08-13T00:48:19Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-08-13T00:48:19Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Patient Satisfaction with Medication Pricing in Community Pharmacy Settings and Perceptions of Medicine Pricing Policy: A Cross-sectional Study on Individuals with Comorbidity Background: Medication pricing in Malaysia is a growing concern, particularly for patients with multiple comorbidities who frequently require long-term medications. Malaysia’s healthcare system comprises both public and private sectors, with the latter often associated with higher out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure. Variability in medication pricing at community pharmacies raises issues regarding affordability, accessibility, and patient satisfaction. Objectives: This study aims to investigate patient satisfaction with medication pricing at community pharmacies in Malaysia. The study also explores the reasons for purchasing medications from these establishments, analyzes the perceived awareness of Malaysia’s Medicines Price Mechanism (MPM), and assesses public opinion on the implementation of the Medicine Pricing Policy (MPP). Method: A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted with 385 participants who purchased medications from community pharmacies. Data collection involved face-to-face and online surveys, and responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential tests. Results: The study found that the majority of the participants were female (n=198), with a mean age of 41 years (± 15.8), Malay (n=220, 57.1%), had secondary education (n=153, 39.7%), self-employed (n=117, 30.4%) with an average monthly income of RM1758 (± RM2512.6). Most participants (n=275, 71.4%) perceived medication prices at community pharmacies as reasonable, while a significant proportion (n = 110, 28.6%) expressed concerns over high costs and price inconsistencies. Awareness of MPM was notably low (n=57, 14.8%), with only one-tenth of participants having knowledge of the pricing policies. A majority of participants (n=279, 72.5%) supported the implementation of a standardized MPP to regulate pricing and improve affordability. Conclusion: The findings highlight the need for greater price regulation, improved transparency, and enhanced public awareness regarding medication pricing policies. The study suggests the implementation of MPP and standardized pricing mechanisms to enhance accessibility and affordability for patients with chronic conditions. Keywords: Medication pricing, community pharmacies, out-of-pocket expenditure, Medicine Pricing Policy, Malaysia. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14377/37188 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | IMU University | |
| dc.subject | Patient Satisfaction | |
| dc.subject | Pharmacies | |
| dc.subject | Cross-Sectional Studies | |
| dc.subject | Individuality | |
| dc.subject | Comorbidity | |
| dc.subject | Health Expenditures | |
| dc.subject | Policy | |
| dc.subject | Commerce | |
| dc.subject | Malaysia | |
| dc.title | Patient Satisfaction with Medication Pricing in Community Pharmacy Settings and Perceptions of Medicine Pricing Policy: A Cross-sectional Study on Individuals with Comorbidity | |
| dc.type | Thesis | |
| dspace.entity.type | Publication | |
| oairecerif.author.affiliation | #PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE# |