Latest news with #NACCOL
Focus Malaysia
3 days 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
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
NACCOL offers 100 subsidised sacrificial cows to Permatang Pauh residents
BUKIT MERTAJAM: The National Action Council on Cost of Living (NACCOL) has distributed 100 cows at half of the market price to ease the financial burden of Permatang Pauh constituents performing the sacrificial ritual in conjunction with Aidiladha this Saturday. Senior political secretary to the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, said NACCOL has taken the initiative to provide each cow weighing 220 kg or more. "Through this special programme, each cow is sold at RM2,800, with individual portions priced at RM399. For a start, it is being offered exclusively to the Permatang Pauh constituents, in line with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's intention to ensure that the underprivileged can perform the sacrificial rite. "Although Permatang Pauh is not the Prime Minister's parliamentary constituency, he feels a strong connection to this area. That is why he wants to help ease the burden of the people here and allow them to carry out the ritual at an affordable price," he told reporters after the ceremony to distribute the sacrificial cows at the Taman Arowana night market site today. Under the programme, 40 areas, including mosques and surau, as well as members of non-governmental organisations and staff of government agencies in the constituency, received the cows that they had purchased. Shamsul Iskandar noted that the initiative did not involve any government subsidies, as NACCOL purchased the cattle directly from farms in large quantities. He said the sacrificial cows were obtained through collaboration with the Johor State Farmers' Organisation and Johor Plantations Group, adding that the initiative will be expanded to other parliamentary constituencies next year. "For example, the congregation of Masjid Kubang Ulu in the Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency purchased 17 cows. The total would have reached RM95,000, but through this initiative, they only paid RM47,000, savings of nearly 50 per cent," he added. - BERNAMA
Barnama
4 days ago
- Politics
- Barnama
100 Sacrificial Cows Sold At Affordable Price In Permatang Pauh
BUKIT MERTAJAM, June 5 (Bernama) -- The National Action Council on Cost of Living (NACCOL) has distributed 100 cows at half of the market price to ease the financial burden of Permatang Pauh constituents performing the sacrificial ritual in conjunction with Aidiladha this Saturday. Senior political secretary to the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, said NACCOL has taken the initiative to provide each cow weighing 220 kg or more. 'Through this special programme, each cow is sold at RM2,800, with individual portions priced at RM399. For a start, it is being offered exclusively to the Permatang Pauh constituents, in line with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's intention to ensure that the underprivileged can perform the sacrificial rite. 'Although Permatang Pauh is not the Prime Minister's parliamentary constituency, he feels a strong connection to this area. That is why he wants to help ease the burden of the people here and allow them to carry out the ritual at an affordable price,' he told reporters after the ceremony to distribute the sacrificial cows at the Taman Arowana night market site today. Under the programme, 40 areas, including mosques and surau, as well as members of non-governmental organisations and staff of government agencies in the constituency, received the cows that they had purchased. Shamsul Iskandar noted that the initiative did not involve any government subsidies, as NACCOL purchased the cattle directly from farms in large quantities. He said the sacrificial cows were obtained through collaboration with the Johor State Farmers' Organisation and Johor Plantations Group, adding that the initiative will be expanded to other parliamentary constituencies next year. 'For example, the congregation of Masjid Kubang Ulu in the Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency purchased 17 cows. The total would have reached RM95,000, but through this initiative, they only paid RM47,000, savings of nearly 50 per cent,' he added. -- BERNAMA
The Sun
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
100 sacrificial cows sold at affordable price in Permatang Pauh
BUKIT MERTAJAM: The National Action Council on Cost of Living (NACCOL) has distributed 100 cows at half of the market price to ease the financial burden of Permatang Pauh constituents performing the sacrificial ritual in conjunction with Aidiladha this Saturday. Senior political secretary to the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, said NACCOL has taken the initiative to provide each cow weighing 220 kg or more. 'Through this special programme, each cow is sold at RM2,800, with individual portions priced at RM399. For a start, it is being offered exclusively to the Permatang Pauh constituents, in line with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's intention to ensure that the underprivileged can perform the sacrificial rite. 'Although Permatang Pauh is not the Prime Minister's parliamentary constituency, he feels a strong connection to this area. That is why he wants to help ease the burden of the people here and allow them to carry out the ritual at an affordable price,' he told reporters after the ceremony to distribute the sacrificial cows at the Taman Arowana night market site today. Under the programme, 40 areas, including mosques and surau, as well as members of non-governmental organisations and staff of government agencies in the constituency, received the cows that they had purchased. Shamsul Iskandar noted that the initiative did not involve any government subsidies, as NACCOL purchased the cattle directly from farms in large quantities. He said the sacrificial cows were obtained through collaboration with the Johor State Farmers' Organisation and Johor Plantations Group, adding that the initiative will be expanded to other parliamentary constituencies next year. 'For example, the congregation of Masjid Kubang Ulu in the Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency purchased 17 cows. The total would have reached RM95,000, but through this initiative, they only paid RM47,000, savings of nearly 50 per cent,' he added.
The Sun
03-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Private GP fee review to be finalised within a month
KUALA SELANGOR: Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad today assured that the review of consultation fees for private general practitioners (GPs) will be finalised within a month. He said that a Cabinet memorandum and circular had been prepared and were expected to be tabled within the same period. 'I have prepared the Cabinet memorandum and circular for the matter. So, I expect to resolve this within one month at the latest. 'Once I have tabled it and obtained Cabinet approval, it will be executed, as the National Action Council on Cost of Living (NACCOL) has already agreed to the review,' he told reporters after attending the Central Zone 'Kembara Tolak Ubat Tidak Sah' (TOBaTS) campaign programme here. On March 13, Dzulkefly was reported as saying that the revised consultation fee rates for private practitioners would be announced before May 1. Meanwhile, Dzulkefly said the ministry would not prevent general practitioners from marching to the Prime Minister's Office this coming Tuesday (May 6) to protest against the policy requiring private medical centres to display medication prices, as it is their right. 'I believe they will act in a civil and respectful manner, and I am ready to receive any memorandum they may submit. 'I cannot stop them, but honestly, I want them to understand what the ministry (and) what this minister, has been fighting for on their behalf. They need to know that I have fought for Schedule 7 (related to the GP fee review),' he said.
