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Focus Malaysia
a day ago
- Health
- Focus Malaysia
Delay on GP fee review: 'Face realities on the ground,' NACCOL told
A DOCTORS' group has expressed disappointment over the government's failure to to revise private general practitioners' (GP) consultation fees as promised. 'We note with deep disappointment that the Health Minister's promise to finalise the long-overdue review of private GP consultation fees within a month has now passed without action,' said Federation of Private Medical Practitioners' Associations, Malaysia (FPMPAM) president Dr Shanmuganthan TV Ganeson. 'Private GPs have been self-funding the essential primary care system for decades. Yet we remain shackled by consultation fees that have not changed in 33 years, while regulations and compliance costs continue to rise.' Recall that Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad told reporters on May 3 that the issue about GP consultation fees would be resolved 'within one month at the latest', adding that he had already prepared a Cabinet memorandum and circular. During Dzulkefly's May 3 press conference, the Health Minister claimed that the National Action Committee on the Cost of Living (NACCOL) had already agreed to a review of GP consultation fees. 'The Malaysian Medical Association and other GP bodies have presented a clear, evidence-based case for a fee update that ensures the sustainability of primary care clinics and the quality of care for our patients,' Dr Shanmuganathan said. 'We understand that NACCOL has raised concerns about the impact of the fee update. We want to remind NACCOL that these concerns are misplaced. 'Patients who visit GPs choose to do so for immediate, quality care—often to avoid hospital queues and costly specialist visits. They are willing to pay a fair fee for this timely service. 'Past analyses by NACCOL itself showed no significant impact on the Consumer Price Index, even with proposed fee updates as far back as 2019.' Moreover, Dr Shanmuganathan noted that third-party administrators have for too long suppressed GP consultation fees for corporate profit, while the Pharmaceutical Services Division, certain pharmacy groups, and even Pharma Corporations have lobbied to undermine the integrated GP clinic model that has served Malaysians well for over 60 years. 'The government must not hide behind a narrative that keeping GP fees artificially low somehow serves the public good,' he stressed. 'In reality, it threatens the survival of primary care—the most cost-effective part of our healthcare system—and shifts costs to patients in other ways. 'NACCOL must face these realities. It must not deny GPs the means to sustain their practices and continue serving communities effectively. 'We call on the Health Minister to honour his promise and on NACCOL to remove its obstacles and allow this long-overdue correction. Anything less is a disservice to GPs and the communities we care for daily.' ‒ June 6, 2025 Main image: The Straits Times
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.
Free Malaysia Today
17-05-2025
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
No policy change on itemised billing, says health ministry
The health ministry said itemised billing is only required if requested by patients, as outlined under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998. PETALING JAYA : The health ministry has confirmed that there are no new policy changes regarding itemised billing for private healthcare facilities and community pharmacies. The clarification follows confusion caused by a ministry officer's comments during a TikTok Live session, where private general practitioners (GPs) and specialist clinics were told to issue itemised bills. In a statement, the ministry explained that itemised billing is only required if requested by patients, as outlined under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998. 'Patients have the right to request an itemised bill, which must be provided without additional charges,' said the ministry. 'This helps patients understand the breakdown of charges for services, treatments and medications.' On May 15, the Federation of Private Medical Practitioners' Associations Malaysia (FPMPAM) criticised the ministry for issuing instructions through social media. During the TikTok session, Redzuan Rizal, a senior officer with the ministry's pharmaceutical services division, said patients were entitled to clear information on healthcare charges. He also encouraged clinics to issue itemised bills, aligning with the mandatory drug price display rule introduced on May 1. FPMPAM president Dr Shanmuganathan TV Ganeson had called the statement an 'overreach,' stressing that no formal directive or legal amendment had been made. He added that billing falls under clinical governance, not the pharmaceutical division, and noted that itemised bills were already available on request.
Free Malaysia Today
15-05-2025
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
Stop giving instructions through social media, private GPs tell health ministry
The private doctors' group said that unbundling services to comply with forced itemised billing could drive up costs for patients. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : A private doctors' group has called on the health ministry to stop issuing instructions to medical practitioners through social media. This follows a TikTok Live session in which Redzuan Rizal, a senior officer with the ministry's pharmaceutical services programme, instructed private general practitioners (GPs) and specialist clinics to implement itemised billing. The Federation of Private Medical Practitioners' Associations Malaysia (FPMPAM) described the announcement as 'a gross overreach' made without any formal directive, circular, or legal amendment. 'It disregards the established regulatory framework that governs private medical practice in Malaysia,' its president, Dr Shanmuganathan TV Ganeson, said in a statement today. 'Doctors are not retailers. We are licensed under the Medical Act 1971 and regulated by the Malaysian Medical Council, while private medical clinics fall under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 (Act 586), not the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 (Act 723).' Shanmuganathan said billing matters fall under clinical governance, not pharmaceutical jurisdiction, and pointed out that itemised bills are already available upon request under existing guidelines. He warned that enforcing itemised billing without a clear legal mandate could force clinics to break down charges for every tool, consumable and procedure — driving up costs for patients. In the TikTok session on the @MyHealthKKM channel, Redzuan reportedly said patients have the right to detailed information about the charges imposed on them. He encouraged clinics to issue detailed bills in line with the mandatory display of drug prices that took effect on May 1. The rule has received pushback from various doctors' groups that have submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister's Office. In their memorandum, the GPs demanded that the government remove private clinics from the purview of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act and review the consultation fees of GPs. The health ministry had said the use of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act for drug price displays aimed to promote transparency and affordability, not disrupt the work of private GPs.
