GP fee review will restore integrity to system

THE recent news about the “hike” in the consultation fees of private general practitioners (GP) has garnered a backlash from the public which is to be expected in any price increase announcement.

However, the reasons for the uproar are due to a lack of understanding regarding the structure of charges.

Taking stock of some comments on social media, many misconstrued the consultation fee as the total fees in a GP’s clinic.

A visit to the clinic will usually incur consultation fees as well as medication and procedural charges.

While doctors are allowed to charge between RM10 and RM35 as their professional consultation fees, more often than not, many charge a minimal RM10 to RM15 per visit.

I also fault the media for its failure in giving a true picture of the issue at hand.

Reports which simplistically stated an up to 300% price increase without discussing the nature of the move borders on irresponsible reporting.

The keyword “harmonisation,” which forms the backbone of the town hall session, did not receive the emphasis it deserved.

As a matter of fact, there is no increase of fees at all.

The move is actually a technical restructuring or in my opinion, better termed as “rebalancing” of the private GP’s fees.

Over the years, due to the absence of systemic and periodic review of the fees, the private GP has been left to the mercy of market forces and forced to cope with the increase in overheads by passing the cost in medicines.

The current move by the Health Ministry is apt in addressing such issues. To return to doctors the rightful professional consultation fees so that they do not have to pass the cost through the medicines.

This will directly bring down the cost of medicines which is harmonisation or a rebalancing in its pure sense.

There is also the issue of universal healthcare coverage. Having a single payor system via universal healthcare coverage can not only reduce the people’s out-of-pocket payment significantly, it can also restore the integrity and professionalism of the private GPs who are the gatekeepers of public health.

In my opinion, it would be a boon if the new Government can work towards implementing such a scheme for the benefit of all Malaysians.