In a written reply, health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said the sum represented a 65% increase of the RM52 million spent last year to procure the medication.

Dzulkefly said of the 18 types of the haemophilia drugs procured, 13 were purchased via a concession and five through direct purchases.

“The health ministry has also kept tabs on the supply of drugs to treat haemophilia and to date there is no supply interruption of these medicines.

“We are committed to ensuring a sufficient supply for patients.”

Dzulkefly said this in response to Rodziah Ismail (PH-Ampang) who wanted an update on the procurement of medicines to treat haemophilia following reports that some patients did not receive their supply of drugs.

Haemophilia is an inherited genetic disorder that impairs the body’s ability to make blood clots, a process needed to stop bleeding.

In October, the Hemophilia Society of Malaysia expressed concern over the ongoing shortage of drug supplies to treat haemophilia patients across the country.

Its president, Edwin Goh, told health portal Galen Centre that since early last year, several major treatment centres in Malaysia have experienced shortages in haemophilia medicines.

In March, the Medical Journal of Malaysia revealed that according to the Annual Global Survey 2022 by the World Federation of Haemophilia, there were 1,048 people with haemophilia in Malaysia, with 899 (85.8%) having haemophilia A and 149 (14.2%) haemophilia B.