PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Dr NKS Tharmaseelan said that the Health Ministry’s move to increase medical consultation and procedure fees by 14% was unfair and unsatisfactory.

“But we have to accept it for now and we hope the government will review the fee when there is an upturn in the economy,” he said via e-mail to FMT.

“Though we accept the fee increase of only 14% after 12 years , it is solely because as doctors we put service before ourselves as per the Hippocratic Oath.”

“The increase does not commensurate with the increase of the cumulative Consumer index or reflect inflation since 2002. The last revision was 12-years ago and the current increase is only by 14%, which is only an average of 1% a year,” said Tharmaseelan.

When asked as to how MMA will monitor the fees charged by doctors, he replied that patients should request for an itemised bill and if they are still unhappy, the matter can be referred to the Health Ministry for investigation and appropriate action if there is evidence of overcharging.

“Patients can also write to the MMA and if the allegation is proven to be true we will in turn refer the case to the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC),” he said.

Commenting on whether MMA thought the doctor’s fee hike would further burden the public Tharmaseelan said that “the increase is only a marginal one percent annually spread over the last 12-years”.

He added that these days clinics are not making money and many are closing down as they have become unsustainable .

“Around 500 clinics have closed down over the last few years or they have been bought over by larger chain clinics or corporations. Many more will close down over the years,” added Tharmaseelan.

Last year MMA had submitted a request to the Health Ministry for the approval of a 30% increase in consultation and procedural charges.

In December, the Health Ministry amended the 13th Schedule of the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services (Privates Hospitals and Other Private Health Facilities) Regulations 2006, which would allow private healthcare providers to raise fees between 14 to 18%.

The revision included a spike in consultation charges from between RM10 and RM35 to RM30 and RM125 for general practitioners, and from between RM30 and RM125 to RM80 and RM235 for specialist doctors.

Despite public uproar, Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam has defended the hike, saying it would protect the public’s interest.

source:Free Malaysia Today