KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 30 -- The government yesterday launched the subsidised Ubat Melalui Pos (Postal Service for Medicines) programme, which it said would benefit more than 85,000 patients.

While the programme began in 2011, this is the first time medicines sent through the national postal service will be fully subsidised.

The free delivery service is set to run for a year and is estimated to cost RM5 million. It may be extended later.

What is UMP?

UMP is a government service that delivers long-term repeat prescriptions, such as daily tablets or capsules for chronic conditions like hypertension, diabetes or heart disease, directly to a patient's doorstep via PosLaju.

The programme is meant to help patients receive their monthly medica...