General Practitioners, once among the highest earning professionals in the country, now face dwindling income due to fewer patients, according to the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA).

An editorial in the latest newsletter of the MMA said the trend is worrying because general practice might become extinct one day and patients would find difficulty finding primary-care physicians.

The editorial said that general practice was once a "roaring" option in Malaysia and many doctors left government service to go to the private sector as soon as their compulsory service was completed.

"A prominent GP in Klang Valley could see more than 150 patients a day during good times, but now it is down to about 20," it added.

Although the government is trying to salvage the situation by providing more avenues of primary care through 1Malaysia clinics and

1Care, the doctors "are worried that private general practices would not have the advantages of these new systems."

The editorial said that patients who could afford to pay for healthcare should have access to private healthcare at reasonable cost.

The editorial reported the concern of private hospitals over getting reimbursement because of escalating healthcare cost.

"Insurance premiums might be raised in future making it less affordable for patients thus reducing clients in the private hospitals," it said.

"This would then put pressure on government hospitals which are already reaching their  limits."

- Bernama