Malaysian Medical Association president H. Krishna Kumar said that because of stiff competition, private clinics were forced to secure a fair pool of patients.

“Medical care organisations are able to provide patients but the clinic can only charge the organisations’ rate. This is usually lower than the amount scheduled for private clinics,” he explained.

He said that besides the low profit margin and high rental in the cities, the cost of medical equipment had also increased.

The introduction of several new fees set by the Government was another contributing factor, he said.

“To set up a clinic, a doctor will need to register with the Health Ministry and the fee is RM1,500. Now with the Personal Data Protec­tion Act (PDPA), one needs to register with them and the fee depends on the type of practice,” he elaborated.

 Then there is the business licence from the local council, he added.

“The salaries of clinic staff have also increased. In the past, clinic assistants were paid between RM350 and RM500 but now their salary has increased to RM900.

“The cost of medicines is continuously spiralling up. After 12 years, we increased the consultation fee by 14% and there was heavy criticism,” said Krishna.

He highlighted that because of pub­­lic complaints, most private clinic doctors had not raised their fees despite the increase in operational costs.

“With these private clinics closing, consumers will either visit government clinics or pay much higher fees at private hospitals,” he added.

The Malaysian Medical Association Private Practice chairman Dr Ganabaskaran Nadason urged the younger doctors who aspired to set up clinics, to join larger medical groups or set up group practices.

He said the move would secure a better future for doctors in private practice.

“Companies prefer group clinics for the sake of convenience, such as patient records and payment process.

“Standalone clinics are not viable in the city. Set up group practices. Companies and major organisations prefer single billing system and clinics with combined facilities,” he said.

“Private clinics will thrive better if they were set up in semi-urban and rural areas,” he added.

Dr Ganabaskaran recounted his own experience.

“I was the first doctor to set up a clinic in Taman Permas Jaya, Johor. Now there are 17 clinics in the neighbourhood.

“Here in Selangor, Subang Jaya has some 25 clinics and Puchong has 30 clinics,” he said.

“I am a member of a larger medical group and I joined some 10 years ago because I knew private sector was becoming challenging.

“What was practised some 30 years ago is not the same today,” he concluded.

Source:The Star