MMA hopes new GP consultation fees will be appropriate, fair

The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has expressed hope that the revision of private general practitioner (GP) consultation fees, set to be announced before May 1 this year, will be both appropriate and fair.

Its president, Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira, said MMA believed that raising the consultation fee to a minimum of RM60 would be fair and appropriate, while the upper limit should be based on studies conducted by the National Action Council on Cost of Living (Naccol) under the Statistics Department.

“This we feel, is appropriate taking into consideration the unchanged regulated fee range of RM10 to RM35 for over 33 years, increased costs over this period and inflation.

“For years, many GPs have been struggling with operational costs which include rental, staff wages, medicines, medical equipment and costs to comply with regulations, that have significantly increased over this period,” he said in a statement today.

As many clinics have closed due to the challenges of sustaining their operations, he said the association hoped the government would announce fair consultation fees that consider factors like the cost of living, public opinion, and the current struggles faced by GPs.

Kalwinder also emphasised the importance of implementing fixed periodic adjustments of 10 percent every three years to keep consultation fees in line with inflation.

Yesterday, Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said the adjusted consultation fees for private GPs would be announced before May 1, after approval was obtained for an immediate review of the fees listed under Schedule 7 of the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 (Act 586).

Kalwinder also expressed MMA’s gratitude for the approval of the revision by Naccol and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

With regards to the Medicine Price Display, which is to take effect from May 1, he shared that the MMA reiterated its stand that the regulation of the practice of medicine should not come under two separate Acts and urged that the legality of utilising Act 723 for GPs be studied further.

“It is also the view of MMA and GPs that enforcement, of any kind, should be only be under the purview of the Health Ministry and not under any other agency or ministry.

“Clinics provide professional services and are already under the ambit of the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 (Act 586). They should not be looked at in the same manner as retail outlets in this process of enforcement,” he added.

- Bernama

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