Healthcare will not be cheaper, say unhappy docs

The Star

02-05-2025

PETALING JAYA: The new law requiring medicine prices to be displayed at private clinics will not bring down the price of healthcare, says the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA).
Instead, it may lead to more clinics closing down, resulting in hardship for patients, the group said.
With clinics forced to close, it said, the already strained public healthcare system would be further burdened.
'Rising healthcare costs are largely due to other factors, including medical insurance premiums, claims denials, third-party administrator (TPA) policies, illegal, unsafe healthcare centres, etc, all of which are unregulated,' it said on its Facebook page, MMA Schomos.
The ruling on displaying medicine prices came into effect yesterday, leaving many in the private healthcare fraternity upset.
Disgruntled doctors are set to march on May 6, marking the first protest in four years since the Hartal Doktor Kontrak strike on July 26, 2021.
Called 'Doctors Betrayed: The Long Walk to Putrajaya', the march organised by the MMA will see participants walking from the Health Ministry to the Prime Minister's Office.
In the social media post yesterday, the MMA called out the government for not keeping its promise of reviewing the consultation fees for 33 years, since 1992.
'Our fees have remained between RM10 and RM35 since 1992, despite rising operational expenses.
'It may even be cheaper than getting a meal and coffee,' the post read.
In a statement, MMA president Datuk Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira urged the government to put the ruling on hold, pending the resolution of issues like the consultation fees.
'These valid questions should be answered prior to any decision-making,' said Dr Kalwinder, who was disappointed that the government had proceeded with the implementation without addressing the reservations of the medical practitioners.
During the 'Advocacy' meeting in February, it was concluded that the rule for displaying medicine prices would only be implemented after the long-overdue revision of private GP consultation fees.
'That commitment has not been honoured,' said Dr Kalwinder.
He said GPs have every reason to feel frustrated over the use of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act, which is a non-medical Act, on the already heavily regulated medical profession.
'The MMA strongly urges the government to halt the rule for displaying medicine prices.
'This will allow for proper engagement and resolution of the concerns raised.'
Malaysian Dental Association Assoc president Prof Dr Mas Suryalis Ahmad said the association stands in solidarity with the MMA.
'We believe that healthcare should be recognised as a vital public service rather than a commercial commodity,' she said.
A doctor based in Sabah also called on his counterparts to protest by wearing black attire to work and to take photos and post it on social media.
'We will shut our clinics and pharmacies, and we will walk to Parliament – when our associations call.'
On Wednesday, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad and Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Ali said in a joint statement that the price list initiative was in line with the government's commitment to price transparency.
They said the move would allow the people to make informed choices and make price comparisons.