Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by kidsfromspace

Singkarak Round - Lim wins the stage, Ewart still

kidsfromspace — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 16:34:29 +0800

Singkarak Round - Lim wins the stage, Ewart still

Split between Singkarak and Solok Selatan (214km), the sixth stage of the Singkarak Tour was won by Filipino Rustom Lim (7 Eleven Cliqq - air21 by Roadbike Philippines). The 26-year-old won 5 seconds ahead of Iran's Mirsamad Pourseyedi (Omidnia Mashhad Team) and 27 seconds over Thai- Phuchong Sai-udomsin (Thailand Continental Cycling Team). This is the third victory for a Filipino runner on this 2019 edition, after those of Ismael Grospe and Jonel Carcueva (Go For Gold). Fourth of the stage, Jesse Ewart(Team Sapura Cycling) remains at the top of the overall standings and has even taken over 2 seconds from his Moldovan team-mate Cristian Raileanu , the Australian's lead over his dolphin now being 1'01 ".

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Sources: https://www.cyclismactu.net/news-tour-de-si...ader-87662.html

MACC Finds No Corruption in Public Drug Procuremen

kidsfromspace — Tue, 15 Oct 2019 11:36:44 +0800

MACC Finds No Corruption in Public Drug Procurement

There was no evidence of graft found in the alleged monopoly in supply of medicines to MOH, MACC confirmed.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Liew Vui Keong said this in his written reply to Klang MP Charles Santiago’s question who requested the results of the commission’s investigation in Parliament on Oct 7.

He said there is no monopoly in the MOH procurement system as it is made on an open tender, where principal appointed agents may participate in an unlimited number of tenders.

Liew said of the 20 agents registered with MOH, only one agent failed to obtain a drug supply tender during 2013 to 2016, referring to findings by the Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) that summoned MOH on June 25 2018.

The results of the MACC investigation find that the procurement process decided by the procurement board of MOH is in accordance with the prescribed procedure; and the MOH used standard government procedures, where MOH also negotiates prices with the agent selected as a savings measure.

With this statement, it is hoped that no parties will make any assumption or create confusion about the management of the procurement at the Health Ministry.

Investigation was initiated after a whistleblower reportedly alleged that from 2013 to 2016, the total medicine tender awards by MOH, worth RM3.7 billion, were controlled by six tendering agents. The top three tendering agents were alleged to have collectively been awarded 75.9 per cent of the RM3.7 billion.

Source: https://klse.i3investor.com/blogs/MYpharmac...news/230173.jsp

Jangan Bertangguh Soal Konsesi Farmasi!

kidsfromspace — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 09:22:05 +0800

Jangan Bertangguh Soal Konsesi Farmasi!

Selepas Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-14, sudah menjadi kebiasaan bagi pentadbiran baru mengkaji semula setiap kontrak yang dianugerahkan pentadbiran lama kepada syarikat-syarikat terlibat. Jadi, bukanlah satu kejutan sesetengah kontrak dikaji semula dan dianugerahkan kepada syarikat lain atau ia dikekalkan. Tetapi dalam kes konsesi pengedaran bekalan ubat-ubatan ke seluruh negara, ia sudah mula mencetuskan rasa gelisah di sektor kesihatan terutama sektor farmasi.

Pada pertengahan tahun lepas, timbul satu laporan bahawa monopoli konsesi oleh syarikat farmasi Pharmaniaga merupakan punca kenaikan harga ubat sekaligus menyumbang kepada kenaikan kos rawatan kesihatan di negara ini. Ini menyebabkan satu semakan dibuat oleh Kementerian Kesihatan (KKM) untuk melihat sama ada dakwaan tersebut ada justifikasi atau tidak. Walaupun sudah banyak bukti yang menunjukkan peranan Pharmaniaga baik kepada sektor farmasi dan kesihatan amnya, kelewatan KKM membuat keputusan sama ada untuk melanjutkan konsesi atau tidak menimbulkan keresahan pemain industri.

Bagi pemain industri, mereka memahami keperluan pihak kerajaan memperhalusi semua aspek sebelum membuat keputusan tetapi sampai bila? Seharusnya, kerajaan melalui KKM melihat sama ada objektif konsesi yang diberi telah dilaksanakan atau tidak. Tidak ramai tahu, kewujudan syarikat konsesi ini bermula semasa perlaksanaan Dasar Penswastaan yang diperkenalkan semasa tempoh pertama Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad pada tahun 1994. Penswastaan ini membabitkan pihak konsesi mengambil alih semua aset dan tenaga manusia Stor Perubatan Kerajaan yang diletakkan di bawah pemantauan KKM.

Pada ketika itu, terma dan syarat yang ditetapkan dianggap longgar dan tidak memerlukan penguatkuasaan penanda aras prestasi utama (KPI) atau penalti jika pemegang konsesi gagal memenuhi syarat. Justeru, ini menimbulkan masalah logistik untuk menghantar bekalan-bekalan farmasi ke hospital-hospital kerajaan dan kemudahan-kemudahan kesihatan. Namun, semua itu berubah pada tahun 2009 apabila KKM meletakkan syarat-syarat baru dan KPI yang lebih ketat sekaligus membawa kepada penambahbaikan perkhidmatan yang ditawarkan.

Contohnya, Pharmaniaga berjaya mengurangkan tempoh penghantaran bekalan farmasi dari 60 hari bekerja kepada tujuh hari bekerja di Semenanjung Malaysia dan 10 hari bekerja di Sabah dan Sarawak. Selain itu, salah satu daripada KPI baru ini ialah Pharmaniaga menyediakan perkhidmatan penghantaran terus ke rumah termasuk ke kawasan yang paling terpencil di negara. Keputusan ini bukan sekadar menjimatkan kos penyelenggaraan kenderaan tetapi juga kos pekerja yang diperlukan. Sejak tujuh tahun lepas, 98% KPI yang ditetapkan pihak kerajaan dapat dicapai oleh syarikat berkenaan dengan jayanya. Ini sekaligus menghalang hospital terlebih menyimpan stok bekalan sekaligus mengurangkan keperluan membina stor farmasi yang lebih besar.

Pihak konsesi juga diminta membangunkan pengilang-pengilang farmasi dan syarikat-syarikat lain dalam ekosistem yang sama di bawah Program Pembangunan Vendor (VDP). Melalui program ini, vendor-vendor bukan sekadar merancakkan lagi pertumbuhan ekonomi negara dalam sektor farmasi dan kesihatan tetapi juga meningkatkan peluang pekerjaan, pembangunan kemahiran dan pengetahuan pekerja, kemampuan kajian dan penyelidikan (R&D), dan pemindahan teknologi.

Satu daripada teknologi yang dibangunkan oleh Pharmaniaga dengan kerjasama KKM ialah Sistem Maklumat Farmasi (PhIS). Sistem ini merupakan hasil kerja anak tempatan untuk digunakan di hospital-hospital kerajaan dan kemudahan-kemudahan kesihatan. Selepas dilaksanakan pada tahun 2016, sistem ini berjaya mengurangkan pembaziran melalui pengurusan inventori yang baik, mengurangkan risiko bekalan farmasi tamat tarikh luput dan mengurangkan kesilapan pemberian ubat kepada pesakit.

Justeru, persepsi bahawa Pharmaniaga menentukan harga barang-barang farmasi yang dimainkan sesetengah pihak sejak tahun lepas sudah mula kelihatan sebagai satu tuduhan liar. Ini kerana syarat-syarat tender ditentukan oleh KKM dan semua keputusan tender termasuk produk yang dibekalkan, pembekalnya dan harga dibuat mengikut garis panduan keperluan yang ditentukan oleh Kementerian Kewangan (MOF). Pharmaniaga memfokuskan kepada aspek logistik bekalan farmasi selepas semua keputusan dibuat oleh pihak kementerian.

Satu lagi tuduhan yang timbul ialah isu monopoli. Tatkala pihak-pihak tertentu ini galak memainkan isu, mereka terlupa menyemak fakta 30% produk farmasi yang dibekalkan kepada KKM dibuat oleh Pharmaniaga. Sementara baki 70% lagi diuruskan kementerian mengikut proses kontrak terbuka dengan mengikut semua panduan ketat yang disediakan oleh MOF. Ini disahkan sendiri oleh Menteri Kesihatan, Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad pada tahun lepas dalam satu laporan The Star. Menurut beliau, 33.4%(RM1.1 bilion) diuruskan oleh syarikat konsesi sementara baki 66.6% (RM2.2 bilion) dibeli oleh kemudahan-kemudahan melalui kuota atau kontrak. Tambahnya, kenyataan bahawa Pharmaniaga merupakan satu-satunya pemegang konsesi tunggal sebagai tidak benar kerana penglibatan vendor-vendor lain dengan KKM.

Akhir kata, sebarang keputusan yang dibuat bukan sekadar mengambil kira kos kewangan tetapi juga mengambil kira aspek kebajikan rakyat dan impak kepada industri farmasi dan kesihatan amnya. Usah bertangguh dalam membuat keputusan konsesi kerana pembelian barang farmasi ini rumit dan mengambil masa berikutan perlu mematuhi panduan ketat yang ditetapkan oleh MOF. Jangan kerana mengambil masa terlalu lama membuat keputusan, ramai orang berhadapan kesukaran mendapatkan rawatan dan ubat yang diperlukan sehingga mencetuskan keributan dalam masyarakat. Bila itu berlaku, jangan pula menuding jari kepada mana-mana pihak kerana yang salah ialah kelewatan pihak kerajaan dalam menentukan soal konsesi.

Sumber: Mytwocents

Saudi oil attacks to impact Malaysian O&G via oil

kidsfromspace — Wed, 18 Sep 2019 12:05:42 +0800

This incident disrupts six per cent of world oil output and 50 per cent of Saudi Arabia’s output — equivalent to five years of global oil demand growth. — Reuters photo

KUCHING: The coordinated attacks on key Saudi Arabian oil facilities over the weekend will have its impact on Malaysian oil and gas (O&G) players, analysts said, first seen in a trigger of oil prices experiencing its steepest hike in 30 years.

This incident disrupts six per cent of world oil output and 50 per cent of Saudi Arabia’s output – equivalent to five years of global oil demand growth.

Affin Hwang Investment Bank Bhd (AffinHwang Capital) said based on statistics, the current global oil market is undersupplied by some 480,000 barrels per day (bpd) over the next four quarters up to the third quarter of 2020 (3Q20).

“Factoring in the supply disruption, oil demand will far exceed supply, which is positive for global oil prices,” it said in a report following the Saudi incident.

“We maintain our second half Brent oil price assumption at US$65 to US$70 per barrel, but there could be upward bias to our current assumption in the short-term depending on the timeline of production resumption.”

Meanwhile, it said the supply disruption of this scale should result in a more bullish sentiment for the Brent oil prices and sector in the near term, putting O&G stocks under the spotlight.

“Hibiscus Petroleum Bhd (Hibiscus) is the direct proxy to benefit from an oil price recovery,” it highlighted.

“In our coverage, Petronas Chemicals Bhd stands to benefit from a recovery in petrochemical prices and Petronas Dagangan Bhd with a possible inventory lagged gain.

“We have buy calls on Serba Dinamik Holdings Bhd, Bumi Armada Bhd, Velesto Energy Bhd and Kelington Group Bhd, which are all service providers, and their earnings do not directly benefit from higher oil prices.

“However, we believe these stocks would likely see higher interest in view of the current bullish oil price sentiment.”

Public Investment Bank Bhd (PublicInvest Research) shared in this bullish sentiment in the O&G market, expecting it to persist in the near term, providing trading opportunities especially to the pure oil and gas players.

“While Saudi Arabia is expected to bring back a portion of oil output from its other processing facilities, the time frame of 100 per cetnt restoration remain unknown. This situation is expected to put the US shale oil which produces light and sweet oil in focus,” it said.

“US President Donald Trump have said that US would be tapping into its strategic petroleum reserve if needed in the wake of attacks on Saudi oil. Hence, we expect the supply disruption will be just temporary.

“While this incident undoubtedly will cause the biggest global supply disruption ever in history albeit temporarily, we reckon the price spike signals more geopolitical worries ahead. The US insisted on blaming Iran, which could lead to US and Saudi strikes retaliation – something that risks sparking open war.”

Having said that, PublicInvest Research believe all these will keep oil prices elevated and provide near-term trading opportunities.

“Among local O&G players, Hibiscus is the biggest beneficiary given its direct proxy to the oil prices as an oil producer in the upstream segment,” it proposed.

“We retain our overweight stance on the sector with crude oil prices likely to hover around US$65 to US$70 per bbl levels in the near term. Over the longer term period, we think the oil price is fair to trade at US$60, reflecting its real fundamental of global demand and supply.”

Meanwhile, Macquarie Equities Research (MQ Research) in its report expects a five per cent risk premium embedded into oil prices going forward.

“The attack will require the oil market to change its view that Saudi Arabia’s oil infrastructure is impenetrable to military attacks and sabotage,” it added in the report.

Some of the stock gainers from this incident include Sapura Energy Bhd, whereby its exploration and production (E&P) segment a beneficiary of higher oil prices, especially with 4Q production ramp-up.

“Petronas Chemicals is another likely beneficiary from higher oil prices. Average selling price tends to move with oil prices while costs are fixed on long-term gas contracts; but medium-term risk on demand if oil disruption is prolonged,” it said.

“Petronas Dagangan will also benefit as the Mean of Platts Singapore (MOPS) price trend returning to positive trajectory should help offset previous market concerns on negative trend.

“AirAsia Group Bhd is well hedged against Brent crude oil risks. Meanwhile, spreads have been relatively well behaved vs flat prices with only marginal movements.”

The big problem is price control, not Pharmaniaga

kidsfromspace — Fri, 13 Sep 2019 17:10:46 +0800

“The big problem is price control, not Pharmaniaga" - says MyCC

Social activist Lim Mah Hui, one of the conductors of the MyCC study, said Pharmaniaga did not have a monopoly over supply but a virtual monopoly over logistics.

He said the study showed that the margins from the logistics business were thin and that Pharmaniaga’s key performance index was to ensure the drugs could be distributed.

He said prices were affected more by patents held by big multinational companies, but acknowledged there was room for improvement.

“The government is a big purchaser of drugs, but only for the public sector. If you opt for private healthcare, you will pay a lot more for medicines as their margins are higher.”

He said a private hospital recently charged him RM40 per sachet of Fortrans for a colonoscopy. He noted that a box of Fortrans containing four sachets was being sold online for RM60.

“We should look at the Australian system where there is a government body which negotiates with pharmaceutical companies on behalf of the private and public healthcare sectors,” he said.

“This gives the government greater bargaining power. Due to the economies of scale, it can enjoy lower drug prices.

“The big problem is price control, not Pharmaniaga.”

Source: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/...with-putrajaya/