UMMC fees may see sharp hike next year

CHARGES for surgical procedures at the University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) may see a multi-fold hike early next year.

According to a report in China Press yesterday, the commonly-done heart bypass surgery may cost as much as RM20,000, an increase of RM15,000 from RM5,000 now.

However, in response to the daily’s query on word getting around that it would raise its surgical fees by no less than 100%, UMMC stressed that it was just a proposal and it has yet to decide on the quantum of increase.

According to the report, the management of UMMC is expected to meet next month and finalise the figures.

A source told the daily a steep hike could be expected for certain procedures such as heart bypass surgery, adding that starting next year, charges will be calculated using the micro-costing system.

This means instead of a standard fee quoted for a surgical procedure as is the current practice, a patient will be charged for every item used in the procedure.

The fee hike is inevitable as UMMC is unable to meet its costs as a result of the government’s budget cut for the medical centre, the source said, adding that its management had made the fee-hike decision as early as January.