Dr Mah advocates for regulatory body to oversee private hospital fees

The Star

02-05-2025

Support for regulating private hospital charges on supplies & services
WE strongly support the urgent call for a regulatory body to oversee and standardise charges imposed by private hospitals for supplies and services. Alarming examples—such as RM43.35 for an ice bag or RM18.80 for baby wipes—highlight the extent of unchecked profiteering that is placing an unfair burden on patients.
In another case, a private hospital in Kuala Lumpur charged a patient RM1 for a sheet of disposable garbage bag—easily available at RM1.80 for 10 sheets in convenience stores—and RM3 for a yellow plastic bag meant for used syringes. Other items, like a plastic apron supposedly worn by the operating theatre nurse, were also billed. These charges are nearly impossible for patients to challenge, as hospitals often claim such items were used during surgery when patients are unconscious under anaesthetic.
Hospital supplies and services (HSS)—including consumables, diagnostic tests, and use of medical equipment—now make up as much as 70% of private hospital bills, according to Bank Negara Malaysia. While professional fees and room charges are regulated or fixed, HSS costs remain largely unchecked. This lack of oversight fuels medical inflation and drives up insurance premiums, making private healthcare increasingly unaffordable.
Patients must not be treated as passive recipients of excessive bills. They have a right to clear, upfront information about all charges before treatment. Too often, they are presented with lengthy, itemised bills—without explanation or the ability to make informed choices. This erodes trust in private healthcare.
We echo calls for common-sense reforms. Clear regulations must ensure that prices for consumables and services are fair, reasonable, publicly displayed and relayed to patients prior to treatment or surgery. A regulatory body—including the Health Ministry, private healthcare providers, consumer groups, and civil society—should be established to oversee and enforce these standards.
Healthcare providers must also adopt cost-effective practices such as using generic medicines and evidence-based diagnostics, without compromising the quality of care.
Private hospitals are essential to our health system, but they must operate with fairness, ethics, and accountability. Affordable, transparent healthcare should be a right—not a luxury—for all Malaysians.
The time for action is now. The government must introduce decisive policies and take immediate action to curb profiteering and protect patients across the country. Regulation of private hospital charges is not just overdue—it is a matter of public interest and social justice.
Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon
MCA Deputy President