Cost-Containment of Non-Formulary Medicines Accessibility: Malaysian Experience

Methods This study was designed to assess and review current practice and policy in the Malaysia pharmaceutical procurement procedures of non-formulary medicines. This was a quantitative study and was conducted in a cross-sectional study design. A purposive sampling method was applied in the study sample selection. The targeted samples to be involved in the selection were the public healthcare institutions in Malaysia. The study was conducted in the 13 major public hospitals in Malaysia. The data and information on the pharmaceutical procurement of nonformulary medicine management, financial allocation and expenditures on pharmaceuticals purchased in the selected facilities for the three consecutive years of 2011, 2012 and 2013 were collected and analysed statistically. The study has been conducted over a year. The study was carried out from February 2014 until February 2015. The study has been carried out in the major public hospitals in Malaysia focusing both on the out-patient and in-patient sectors.