Raise GP consultation fee to at least RM60, says MMA

 

The Malaysian Medical Association said GPs have been grappling with higher operational costs over the years, involving rental, staff wages, medical equipment and medicine costs. (Freepik pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

The Malaysian Medical Association has urged the government to increase the consultation fees for private general practitioners to at least RM60, as the health ministry revises the amount.

Its president, Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira, said the group welcomed the ministry’s review of the fee under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act (PHFSA) 1998, adding that MMA has been calling for this “for quite some time”.

“We believe an increase to a minimum of RM60 in consultation fee would be an appropriate and fair amount while leaving the upper limit to be based on studies conducted by National Action Council on Cost of Living and the statistics department.

“We feel this is appropriate considering the unchanged regulated fee range of RM10 to RM35 for over 33 years, increased costs over this period, and inflation.

“It is also important that, going forward, fixed periodical adjustments of the consultation fee of 10% every three years are put in place to keep pace with inflation,” he said in a statement.

Kalwinder said GPs have been grappling with higher operational costs over the years, involving rental, staff wages, medical equipment and medicine costs.

He said many clinics have been forced to close down as they were unable to cope with the rising costs.

“We hope that the quantum to be decided and announced by the government, while taking into account factors such as the cost of living and public opinion, will be fair to GPs and their current situation,” he said.

Yesterday, health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said the revised consultation fees for GPs would be announced before May.

He said the health ministry has received the prime minister and cost of living council’s approval to revise the fees. - FMT