2 days ago
Private doctors deny profiteering claims, urge health focus
KUALA LUMPUR: A group representing private doctors has rejected recent allegations made by the Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP) and several civil society groups, calling the claims misleading and unfair.
"We, DRSforALL, from the Federation of Private Medical Practitioners' Associations Malaysia, categorically reject the misleading accusations made in the May 31, 2025 joint statement by the Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP) and several allied civil society groups," its founding chairman Dr Steven K.W. Chow said in a statement.
DRSforALL, an initiative under the Federation of Private Medical Practitioners' Associations Malaysia (FPMPAM), said private general practitioners (GPs) have long played a crucial role in community healthcare, including during the COVID-19 pandemic and national emergencies.
The group defended the introduction of modest administrative charges by some clinics, citing rising operational costs and unchanged consultation fees for over three decades.
"Accusations that GPs are profiteering and resisting transparency are unjustified, misleading, and deeply damaging to public confidence in this essential trust," Dr Chow said.
He also said that GP consultation fees have remained unchanged for over 30 years.
"Expecting clinics to absorb these costs indefinitely is unrealistic," Dr Chow said, adding that "allegations of over-prescription and anti-competitive practices are mischievous and entirely unsubstantiated."
It also expressed concern over the growing number of vape shops compared to medical clinics, calling it a more urgent public health issue that deserves attention.
"We urge CAP and its allies to set their priorities straight. For example, a more urgent concern is the alarming lack of effective regulation over nicotine and vape sales," Dr Chow added.
In their May joint statement, the civil society groups expressed strong disapproval of the GPs' response to the newly introduced drug price display order, saying their reluctance to support price transparency reflects poorly on the profession in the public's eyes.
