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Free Malaysia Today
5 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Speed up Cabinet approval for GP consultation fee hike, says MMA
On May 6, the MMA and other GP groups submitted a memo that included a call for a consultation fee review before enforcement of the mandatory drug price display rule. (Freepik pic) PETALING JAYA : The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has renewed its call for the government to urgently approve a long-delayed hike in consultation fees for general practitioners (GPs), saying stagnant rates for over three decades are pushing clinics to the brink. The call follows a joint memorandum submitted by MMA and other GP organisations to the Prime Minister's Office after a peaceful assembly on May 6. The memo urged the government to review outdated consultation fees before enforcing the mandatory drug price display rule. Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira. MMA president Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira said they had since met health ministry officials and presented a clear, evidence-based justification for fee adjustments. While the government's final decision will consider all views, he called for the justification they had provided be taken seriously and for the Cabinet to expedite the review. 'The 33-year-old unchanged consultation fees have taken their toll and will only worsen the survival rate of GP clinics,' he said in a statement today. Kalwinder also expressed hope that the National Action Council on Cost of Living, chaired by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, would urgently address the issue and allow GPs to present their challenges. He said the delay in increasing GP fees was threatening the survival of primary care clinics across the country. 'The long-awaited fee revision is not about profit. It is not about worrying about its effect on healthcare inflation, which occurs predominantly in secondary and tertiary care. 'It is about ensuring the survival of primary care, which is the most cost-effective arm of our health system,' he said.
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.
Free Malaysia Today
17-05-2025
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
Ban sale of vapes nationwide, doctors urge govt
The Malaysian Medical Association lauded the state governments of Johor, Terengganu, Kelantan and Perlis for acting decisively in banning the sale of vapes and e-cigarettes. PETALING JAYA : The Malaysian Medical Association has urged the government to impose a nationwide ban on the sale of vapes and e-cigarettes, commending four states for implementing prohibitions on their own. MMA president Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira said the harmful effects and high healthcare costs associated with treating conditions like e-cigarette or vaping-associated lung injury (Evali) were well documented. He said the health ministry had reported 41 Evali cases from 2019 to 2024 and that it had cost the government RM150,000 to treat each patient. 'MMA strongly believes that a comprehensive national ban is the only viable course of action to safeguard public health. 'Public health must take precedence over profit, and we cannot allow these harmful products to jeopardise the wellbeing of future generations. 'While a federal ban on vape products may require legislative amendments, this should not delay urgent action,' he said in a statement. Kalwinder also cited the Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2023, which found that e-cigarette users had increased exponentially by 600% over the past 12 years, with the prevalence among those aged 15 to 25 also rising from 1.1% to 8.6% in that period. Expressing concern over the use of vapes among the youth, he said it was unsurprising for children to get hooked on the products given their attractive flavours and packaging. 'Close to 20,000 cases of students vaping in schools were reported in the country last year. This is despite the age restriction on the sale of vaping and e-cigarette products. 'We are also deeply concerned over reports of students as young as 13 caught using vapes containing substances mixed with drugs.' The Perlis government announced on Wednesday that it would ban the sale of vapes from Aug 1, joining Johor, Kelantan and Terengganu in imposing a full ban on vape sales. Terengganu's ban will be enforced from Aug 1, while Johor and Kelantan have banned the sale of these products since 2016 and 2015, respectively. Kedah has decided not to impose an outright ban but to stop allowing the renewal of business permits for vape traders once their licences expire. Kalwinder lauded the state governments of Johor, Terengganu, Kelantan and Perlis for taking 'decisive action' for the sake of public health.
Daily Express
17-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Express
Doctors urge nationwide ban on the sale of vapes
Published on: Saturday, May 17, 2025 Published on: Sat, May 17, 2025 By: FMT Reporters Text Size: Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2023, which found that e-cigarette users had increased exponentially by 600pc over the past 12 years, with the prevalence among those aged 15 to 25 also rising from 1.1pc to 8.6pc in that period. PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) urged the Government to impose a nationwide ban on the sale of vapes and e-cigarettes, commending four states for implementing prohibitions on their own. MMA President Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira said the harmful effects and high healthcare costs associated with treating conditions like e-cigarette or vaping-associated lung injury (Evali) were well documented. Advertisement He said the Health Ministry had reported 41 Evali cases from 2019 to 2024 and that it had cost the Government RM150,000 to treat each patient. 'MMA strongly believes that a comprehensive national ban is the only viable course of action to safeguard public health. 'Public health must take precedence over profit, and we cannot allow these harmful products to jeopardise the wellbeing of future generations. 'While a federal ban on vape products may require legislative amendments, this should not delay urgent action,' he said in a statement. Advertisement Kalwinder also cited the Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2023, which found that e-cigarette users had increased exponentially by 600pc over the past 12 years, with the prevalence among those aged 15 to 25 also rising from 1.1pc to 8.6pc in that period. Expressing concern over the use of vapes among the youths, he said it was unsurprising for children to get hooked on the products given their attractive flavours and packaging. 'Close to 20,000 cases of students vaping in schools were reported in the country last year. This is despite the age restriction on the sale of vaping and e-cigarette products. 'We are also deeply concerned over reports of students as young as 13 caught using vapes containing substances mixed with drugs.' The Perlis government announced on Wednesday that it would ban the sale of vapes from Aug 1, joining Johor, Kelantan and Terengganu in imposing a full ban on vape sales. Terengganu's ban will be enforced from Aug 1, while Johor and Kelantan have banned the sale of these products since 2016 and 2015, respectively. Kedah has decided not to impose an outright ban but to stop allowing the renewal of business permits for vape traders once their licences expire. Kalwinder lauded the state governments of Johor, Terengganu, Kelantan and Perlis for taking 'decisive action' for the sake of public health. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Borneo Post
10-05-2025
- Health
- Borneo Post
Malaysian Medical Association expresses gratitude to PM, calls for MOH dialogue on price control, fee reforms
Dr Kalwinder stresses the need for meaningful dialogue, particularly regarding the use of Act 723 and the long-overdue revision of private GP consultation fees, which have remained unchanged for over three decades. KUCHING (May 10): The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has expressed appreciation to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for his prompt response to a joint memorandum submitted by 11 medical associations, while urging immediate engagement with the Ministry of Health (MOH) ahead of the Cabinet's tabling of related working papers. MMA president Dato Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira stressed the need for meaningful dialogue, particularly regarding the use of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 (Act 723) to enforce the medicine price display order, and the long-overdue revision of private general practitioner (GP) consultation fees, which have remained unchanged for over three decades. 'We commend these important initiatives and respectfully urge that meaningful engagement be held by MOH with MMA and stakeholders prior to the tabling. 'Constructive dialogue by the MOH is essential to fully understand the requests outlined in the memorandum, rather than conducting a unilateral review that lacks the necessary input from the medical profession,' he said in a statement. Dr Kalwinder clarified that doctors are not opposed to price transparency, but are concerned with the application of Act 723 – a non-medical law – to regulate medical clinics. Instead, the MMA advocates using the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 (Act 586), which already governs clinics and enables ministerial regulation under Section 107. 'Doctors only dispense medications which they feel are needed for treatment in strict adherence to the Poisons Act 1952, which applies to them and comes under the purview of MOH. 'Doctors are also personally held responsible for every treatment rendered and medication given. 'Doctors are also accountable under the Medical Act 1971 (Act 50) and can be hauled up for disciplinary proceedings if any complaints are made,' he said. On the revision of consultation fees, MMA welcomed the government's commitment to a fixed timeline and expressed hope that the new rates will fairly reflect the contributions of private GPs, who have endured a 33-year freeze in fees, currently ranging from RM10 to RM35. 'We hope the new increased rates will also acknowledge the vital contributions of private GPs to the health of the population and will be meaningful towards the sustainability of Malaysia's primary healthcare sector in line with the Ministry of Health's focus on strengthening primary care in the promotion of health and the prevention of diseases,' said Dr Kalwinder. Act 723 Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira lead mma private GP
