KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Doctors will continue to dispense medicine, says Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai, denying a local English daily's front page story that doctors will not be allowed to dispense medicine soon.

"We have not made any decision at all. We are conducting a study, but it is only at a preliminary stage," he said.

The report said a pilot project on the separation of functions between doctors' clinics and pharmacies would be launched by the Health Ministry.

It also said that the pilot project would be launched at selected major towns, with the ministry closely monitoring the strengths and weaknesses of the system before implementing it nationwide.

Liow said that while the ministry was considering the request by pharmacists, the study had yet to be completed.