FOR decades, the medical profession has been a popular choice but the surge of new doctors and mushrooming clinics, especially in the cities, has led to 500 clinics nationwide ceasing operations since 2004. There are currently 8,500 general private clinics in the country but the number is slowly dropping.

65-year-old Dr Rajamohan Anamalai is one of those who called time on his practice. He started Klinik Desa at 4th mile Old Klang Road in 1984, and the clinic was open six days a week, treating about 30 patients a day.

However, 30 years on, in 2006, he decided to close his doors for good, saying that business has slowed due to the stiff competition.

“In the 1980s, my clinic was the only one at 4th mile Old Klang Road. When I closed the clinic in 2006, I was only treating about 10 patients a day.

“The situation would be worse today as there are many more clinics in the neighbourhood,” He said.

Dr Rajamohan, who now works as a medical officer with the Prison Department, said it was not economically viable to operate a clinic in the city when there were others in the vicinity.

He also said that many patients now also chose to brave the long waiting hours at government clinics due to cost factors.

He hopes the government will introduce the National Medical Health Financing System as it will benefit both the patients and private practitioners.

According to him, the system would enable patients to have access to high quality care, regardless of age or physical condition, and the care will be nearer to home, work or wherever the person is.

He explained that under the system, patients would be able to choose their own doctors, who could be changed if necessary. However, the system has yet to be implemented.

“I would reconsider opening a private clinic if this system comes into place.

“When the health care system is established, there will be better guidelines and patients will receive better treatment,” he said.

Another doctor who wished to remain anonymous said he had closed down his clinic located in Bandar Utama because of the high overheads.

He now works at a friend’s clinic and does part-time multi-level-marketing, which has proved profitable.

“A ground floor premises in a prime location will cost at least RM20,000 a month. Running an individual clinic is no longer profitable in the city,” he said.

Meanwhile, Primary Care Doctors Organisation Malaysia deputy president Dr Mahendran Markandoo said the 500 clinics that were closed could have been merged with government clinics if the National Medical Health Financing System was in place.

“With the system in place, private clinics will be able to manage chronic diseases and patients will not have to brave the crowds in government hospitals,” he said.

He said the closure of the 500 clinics was a loss to the nation.

He also suggested that the government could implement a coupon system for patients to visit private clinic while the National Medical Health Financing System was still being discussed.

Dr Mahendran said, primary care for patients should be taken care of by the private clinics while government and private hospitals should be for secondary and tertiary care only.

“The government’s concern is always the cost. I think the private clinics will be able to help the government save costs and provide a familiar touch to the patients,” he said.

Source:The Star