‘Higher fees may stop people from seeking treatment’
GEORGE TOWN: The Consumers Association of Penang has urged the Health Ministry to exercise caution over the proposal to raise the consultation fees of doctors at private clinics.
Its president, S.M. Mohamed Idris, said consumers were already burdened by the rising cost of living and any increase in medical fees would deter them from seeking medical treatment, which might lead to health consequences.
“Any increase in consultation fees should not be higher than the rate of inflation. Malaysia’s medical inflation is one of the highest in the region. As such, the ministry should practise caution in raising medical fees,” he said yesterday.
A report last year claimed that Malaysia’s healthcare inflation was 11.5 per cent in 2016 and rose to 12.7 per cent last year, higher than the Asean average of 10.7 per cent.
Idris said it should be mandatory for doctors to provide itemised billing that separated consultation fees and cost of medicines.
“Medicines cost should not be marked up since doctors’ fee comes from consultation. Consumers have the right to know how much they are paying for consultation and medicine.”
It was reported that the consultation fees of medical practitioners at private clinics and hospitals may be raised between RM30 and RM125.
Deputy Health director-general Datuk Dr Azman Abu Bakar had said that the current consultation fees of between RM10 and RM35 had not been revised for nearly 12 years.
He had said that the proposal to review the rate was supported by medical practitioners and consumer organisations.