KUALA LUMPUR, August 12 — The Association of Private Practitioners Sabah (APPS) has told Ministry of Health (MOH) officials and politicians to practise what they preach on “transparency” with public disclosure of their salaries, allowances, and performance.
The Sabah doctors’ group said the National Action Council on Cost of Living’s (Naccol) policy decisions on mandatory prescriptions and itemised billing, following a drug price display mandate, risked undermining the autonomy of private practitioners in Malaysia.
“If transparency and accountability are to be upheld, they must apply equally to those in power. Politicians and MOH officials should lead by example, disclosing their performance metrics and remuneration to the public, just as they expect transparency from doctors,” APPS president Dr Devadas Pathiyil Ramankutty said in a statement to CodeBlue.
He characterised Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad’s silence on Naccol’s proposals – which were announced last week by Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Deputy Minister Fuziah Salleh in Parliament – as a “troubling lapse of leadership, leaving doctors exposed to unwarranted bureaucratic intrusion.”
APPS pointed out that Naccol, as an advisory council, lacks the authority to regulate medical practice.
“This misstep risks eroding the MOH’s regulatory role and sets a precedent for non-health entities to encroach on clinical governance. Such actions, however well-intentioned, reflect a lack of respect for the expertise of medical professionals and the established frameworks governing health care,” said APPS.
“The MOH’s failure to promptly clarify or counter this statement is deeply disappointing. As a Naccol member, Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad has a responsibility to ensure health policy remains within the MOH’s purview.
“The absence of leadership here raises questions about the ministry’s commitment to defending the medical profession.”
Private Doctor Consultation Fees: Singapore (RM455), Thailand (RM212), Malaysia (RM35)
APPS told the government to emulate models of structured and consultative health care governance in Singapore and Thailand.
In Singapore, prescriptions are standard in a dispensing separation model but are not mandated for every visit.
“The Ministry of Health trusts doctors’ judgment, with pharmacists ensuring prescription accuracy, balancing safety and autonomy,” said APPS.
Thailand’s universal health care system (UHC) allows private practitioners flexibility under Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) guidelines, focusing on access through primary care units rather than bureaucratic mandates.
“Both nations prioritise patient outcomes through consultation, not unilateral dictates. Malaysia’s leaders should reflect on this and ensure their own decision-making processes are transparent and evidence-based,” said Dr Devadas.
As for itemised billing, APPS noted that detailed bills are provided upon request in Singapore. Public hospitals publish clear charge breakdowns, particularly for subsidised care under schemes like the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS).
Thailand’s UHC, funded 65 per cent by taxes, ensures affordability, with private clinics regulated by the MOPH for fair billing without excessive mandates.
“Both systems achieve transparency without overburdening practitioners, unlike Malaysia’s poorly considered proposal,” said APPS.
The Sabah doctors’ group also pointed out that doctors in Singapore and Thailand charge far more for consultations than their counterparts in Malaysia.
“Policies like MediSave and CHAS support affordability while respecting doctors, with private consultations costing SGD$79.20 to SG$146.60 (US$58.10 to US$107.50),” said APPS, referring to Singapore.
Doctors in Thailand charge US$20 to US$50 for private consultations.
Converted to the Malaysian ringgit, private doctors’ consultations are charged at a maximum of about RM455 in Singapore and RM212 in Thailand, equivalent to 1,200 per cent or 506 per cent higher than the maximum RM35 consultation fee for a private general practitioner (GP) in Malaysia.
Private GPs’ consultation fees in the country have stagnated at a rate of RM10 to RM35 for 33 years.
“To our medical colleagues: we must stand together. APPS calls on all practitioners, societies, and organisations to defend our professional integrity against unwarranted intrusion. We will not yield to misguided directives, nor will we allow our profession to be scapegoated,” said Dr Devadas.
