Regional Differences In Household Expenditure On Pharmaceuticals: Evidence From Malaysia

This study investigates the factors associated with pharmaceutical expenditure share (PES) among households in different regions of Malaysia. Using data from the Household Expenditure Surveys 2014 and 2016, the study found that on average, a Malaysian household had a PES of 0.8%, which was equivalent to Ringgit Malaysia (RM) 30-40 per month. In general, households with younger, male, less-educated, or Bumiputera heads were less likely to consume pharmaceutical products and had lesser PES than others. Not owning insurance reduced the likelihood of consuming pharmaceutical products and PES. Urban households in low- and middle-income states had a higher PES than rural households. This study recommends more public health clinics in urban areas of low- and middle-income states and townships with more elderly in order to improve access to essential medicines.