Malaysia's heavy reliance on imported medicines raises supply security concerns

MBSB Research highlighted that Malaysia's pharmaceutical sector is largely dependent on overseas suppliers, with imports climbing from roughly RM3.5-RM4.5 billion in 2015 to RM12 billion in the most recent year. The majority of bulk synthetic APIs and starter materials come from China and India, creating exposure to international shipping delays, geopolitical conflicts and raw-material scarcities. Rising logistics congestion in 2026 has already pushed import prices up by as much as 50 percent.

To mitigate these risks, the government introduced a mandatory six-month early-warning notification for potential shortages and is developing a rolling strategic medicine buffer covering critical drugs such as diabetes and cardiovascular treatments. The plan also includes the MyMedSecure framework and a national health security action plan for 2025-2030, though details on compliance and enforcement remain undisclosed.