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New Straits Times
27-05-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
MMA calls for clear legal framework on medicine pricing
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has urged the government to act swiftly on issues affecting private general practitioners (GPs), stressing the need for clear legal frameworks and fair consultation fees to ensure the sustainability of Malaysia's primary healthcare system. MMA president Datuk Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira said the association looks forward to the government's firm decisions following its joint memorandum submitted to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim earlier this month. He said among the top concerns were the appropriate regulation of medicine price display policies and the long-overdue revision of GP consultation fees. He welcomed Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad commitment to place the medicine price display policy under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998, a move the MMA has long advocated, rather than the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011, which was never designed to regulate professional healthcare services. "To avoid disputes and legal ambiguities that may arise from overlapping legislation, the government must immediately de-gazette clinics from the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 (Act 723) once the decision is made to place the medicine price display policy under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 (Act 586). "Keeping clinics under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act after the policy shift would only create unnecessary legal ambiguity," he said in a statement. He said the government must act swiftly to ensure regulatory clarity and prevent jurisdictional overlap by formally de-gazetting clinics from Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 once the other Act comes into effect. "While doctors fully support price transparency, we strongly maintain that all healthcare-related policies must be implemented and enforced under the purview of the Health Ministry (MOH). "While we respect the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry's role in regulating the retail sector, it is important to recognise that healthcare is not retail." He said clinics provide essential, expert-driven services built on trust and ethical duty, not commercial transactions. Applying retail-based policies to medical practice risks compromising the quality and integrity of care Malaysians deserve, he said. Dr Kalwinder also called on the government to address the longstanding issue of stagnant consultation fees for private GPs. He said fees under the 7th Schedule of Act 586 have remained unchanged for over 33 years, despite significant increases in operating costs. "GP clinics are the front line of Malaysia's primary healthcare system. "For them to remain viable and continue delivering quality care, consultation fees must be reviewed and adjusted to reflect current realities," he said. He said the MMA has submitted a detailed proposal justifying the fee revision and hopes for a fair outcome that supports the long-term sustainability of private clinics. "These issues must not be delayed.
Rakyat Post
21-05-2025
- Health
- Rakyat Post
Private Clinic Fees Could Rise Up To 30% Under New Price Ruling
Subscribe to our FREE Treatment charges at clinics and hospitals could hike up by as much as thirty percent in the near future thanks to a new pricing directive that's being enforced, private medical practitioners warned. The Federation of Private Medical Practitioners' Associations Malaysia (FPMPAM) said clinics are now required to itemise charges that were bundled under single fee, and this means patients would bear the brunt of the cost increase, New Straits Times FPMPAM's president, Dr Shanmuganathan T.V. Ganeson explained that the new price display rule has disrupted the current billing system – consultation, treatment, and medication were all charged together previously. 'Clinics now have to unbundle costs, including operating expenses, which must be separately listed on the bill,' he said. An Utusan Malaysia report said the estimated patient charges could go up by 10 to 30 percent depending on the type of treatment and medication. Essentially, a standard consultation may cost RM10 to RM30 more than before. Private medical practitioners were not happy that the new rule was placed under an Act made for retail goods On 6 May, about 200 general practitioners (GP) gathered in front of the Prime Minister's office, seemingly to protest against a new rule that requires private clinics to display prices of medicine. The regulation was part of a broader set of anti-profiteering laws. That was the real reason behind the protest. The GPs were unhappy that the rule was being enforced under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 (Act 723), and was calling for the government to put it under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 (Act 586) instead. In a statement, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) said the consequence of being subjected to both Act 723 and Act 586 could result in enforcement overlaps. They also noted that Act 723 was designed for retail businesses, and are concerned that the overlap may cause confusion. READ MORE: Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
New Straits Times
20-05-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
Clinic bills set to soar: Doctors warn of 30pct hike under new pricing rule
PETALING JAYA: Private medical practitioners have warned that treatment charges at clinics and hospitals could rise by as much as 30 per cent due to the enforcement of a new pricing directive. The Federation of Private Medical Practitioners' Associations Malaysia (FPMPAM) said that patients would bear the brunt of the cost increase, as clinics were now required to itemise charges that were previously bundled under a single fee. Its president Dr Shanmuganathan T.V. Ganeson said that the new rule disrupted the existing billing system, in which consultation, treatment, and medication were charged together. "Clinics now have to unbundle costs, including operating expenses, which must be separately listed on the bill," said Dr Shanmuganathan. According to Utusan Malaysia, estimates suggest that patient charges could rise by between 10 and 30 per cent, depending on the type of treatment and medication. In some cases, a standard consultation may cost RM10 to RM30 more than before. On May 6, some 200 doctors gathered at Laman Perdana near Perdana Putra in Putrajaya to protest the new directive. The group assembled at 9.30am before a 10-member delegation, led by Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) representative Datuk Dr R. Thirunavukarasu, entered the Prime Minister's Office to submit a memorandum. The protesters urged the government to review Act 723 and place regulation of medical practice solely under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 (Act 586), which they argued was sufficient for the sector. While protests continue, most private clinics have already begun displaying medicine prices, as required. Bundled billing remains in place at many clinics for the time being, pending a decision from the Health Ministry. Patients may begin to see higher bills as early as August if no changes are introduced during the grace period. "Once the grace period ends, clinics will be required to provide a full breakdown of all charges," Dr Shanmuganathan said. The price display requirement, gazetted on May 1, falls under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 (Act 723) and is enforced by the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry. It applies to all private clinics, hospitals, and pharmacies.
The Sun
19-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
App to facilitate smarter healthcare product purchases
PETALING JAYA : A mobile application which allows users to compare the prices of medications at private clinics and hospitals could be the ideal solution to help consumers make informed healthcare decisions, says economist Prof Emeritus Barjoyai Bardai. He said such a platform would ensure consumers are aware of the prices of medicines in the market before making a purchase. 'At the moment, medicine prices at over-the-counter pharmacies vary significantly. In the Klang Valley alone, there are many pharmacies, and since prices were previously unregulated, some were selling medicines at double the price compared with competitors. 'This should not continue, as consumers who fail to diligently compare prices may incur unnecessary financial losses,' he told theSun. Barjoyai said the government should consider developing the app in line with the enforcement of the mandatory price display under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 (Act 723), which came into effect on May 1. 'Just like pharmacies, private healthcare facilities also charge varying prices for medication. Unless someone visits several clinics or hospitals, it's hard to know which one offers more affordable services. 'But if there were an app that allowed users to compare treatment and medication costs at nearby facilities, it would empower consumers to make smarter choices. It might also encourage clinics to standardise pricing to remain competitive.' During a TikTok Live session by a senior Health Ministry officer who discussed the mandatory display of medicine prices in private clinics and pharmacies last Wednesday, it was revealed that a mobile app is in development to help users compare medicine prices across private clinics and pharmacies. Barjoyai, however, was puzzled over the opposition from some healthcare groups to the implementation in the private sector. 'Displaying prices has long been mandatory across retail sectors, from hypermarkets to market traders. Pharmacies are also required to comply. So it's unclear why certain groups in the private healthcare sector are objecting to this move,' he said. The mandate to display drug prices at general practice clinics has sparked concerns that it could trigger medical inflation. Federation of Private Medical Practitioners' Associations Malaysia (FPMPAM) president Dr Shanmuganathan TV Ganeson said the enforcement would impact livelihoods and restrict patient access to affordable care. He said GPs nationwide have long practised a 'bundled fee' model, in which charges for administrative tasks, consultations, nursing, medication and minor procedures are combined into one affordable sum for the entire visit. With the new move, Shanmuganathan said GPs may no longer be able to pool the services under a single bill, and a typical clinic visit could now cost patients over RM100. 'The bundled model mirrors the Diagnostic Related Groups (DRG) pricing system, which helps contain costs and offers predictability for patients. 'For instance, treating a common condition like dengue fever might typically include: RM35 for consultation, RM20 for medicine and RM40 for blood tests, totalling RM95, with no separate charges for registration, nursing, disposables, utilities or compliance documentation. 'However, under the new itemised or 'unbundled' billing requirement, patients could now see charges such as RM5 for registration, RM10 for medicine, RM5 for disposables, RM5 for waste disposal and RM5 each for nursing and infectious disease notifications. This would raise the total bill to around RM110,' he explained in a WhatsApp reply to theSun. Shanmuganathan warned that the shift would not only drive up costs but also increase the administrative load for GPs, who have traditionally absorbed or waived minor fees to keep care affordable. On Sunday, the Health Ministry clarified that there is no policy change or new directive requiring private medical clinics to provide itemised billing by default. It said itemised bills are only mandatory upon a patient's request and must be issued at no extra charge to help patients understand the breakdown of service, treatment and medication costs. 'The right of patients to request an itemised bill is stipulated under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services (Private Hospitals and Other Private Healthcare Facilities) Regulations 2006,' the ministry said in a statement. It emphasised that continued collaboration among stakeholders will enhance healthcare quality and safeguard patient rights, in line with Madani values, particularly 'well-being', which promotes equal rights for both patients and private providers.
The Star
15-05-2025
- Health
- The Star
Govt weighs MMA proposal on medicine displays
PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry is contemplating a proposal from the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) on the implementation of a rule for displaying medicine prices under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 (Act 586), says Minister Datuk Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad. The proposal, which was included in a memorandum submitted by the MMA, has garnered the attention of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who has advised the ministry to conduct a thorough study and evaluation of the proposal. 'The Prime Minister has asked me to carefully review their memorandum, and I have taken this matter seriously. 'I have directed the top leadership of the ministry to look into how we can address the request fairly and consider the feasibility of placing the medicine price display requirement under Act 586, which falls under the ministry's purview,' Dzulkefly told a press conference after attending the 2025 National Midwives and Nurses Day celebration here. He said the ministry is responsive and welcomes constructive suggestions aimed at strengthening the healthcare system. Last Tuesday, MMA urged the government to reassess the application of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 (Act 723) within the medical sector. This request pertains to the recent regulation that mandates private clinics and pharmacies display the prices of medicines, which began this month. In its memorandum, the MMA expressed its full support for transparency in drug pricing; however, it recommended that this transparency be implemented through Act 586.
