KUALA LUMPUR, August 13 — Dr Halimah Ali (PN-Kapar) has told the Ministry of Health (MOH) to treat private general practitioners (GPs) as allies, amid regulatory pressure on these doctors.
The PAS lawmaker pointed out that the public health care system can’t manage its own patient load, be it in hospitals or health clinics.
“So let these GPs – they’re not even rich – become the buffer. MOH should be making these GPs, not those who want to make more money, as your Rakan KKM to help with health issues,” Dr Halimah said in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday during her debate on the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP).
“Don’t disturb the primary health care system. GPs have been helping a lot amid the load of patients in government premises.”
Rakan KKM is a new private health care service that is expected to be launched in four government hospitals this year, after having received RM25 million in seed funding from government-linked investment companies (GLICs) like the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF).
The MOH expects Rakan KKM to make sufficient revenue and profit to provide its investors with a return on investment, remunerate specialist doctors and other health care workers, as well as to pour some funding back into the public health care system.
Multiple doctors’ groups have expressed deep frustrations with the MOH, following the implementation of the drug price display mandate by the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN).
Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Deputy Minister Fuziah Salleh’s recent announcements about mandatory prescriptions and itemised billing have further fueled anger among medical practitioners, with some openly accusing Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad of failing to defend the medical profession.
Set GP Fee Floor For TPAs: Bandar Kuching MP
Dr Kelvin Yii (PH-Bandar Kuching) called for a special committee by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and the MOH to regulate third-party administrators (TPAs), beginning with those that count government-linked companies (GLCs) and GLICs among their clients.
“TPAs usually take a cut of between 10 per cent and 15 per cent from the bill, affecting the sustainability of private clinics and the quality of patient care that could force GPs to consider cost-saving measures or to adjust their charges to prevent losses,” Dr Yii said in his debate on 13MP in Parliament yesterday.
The DAP lawmaker suggested that the BNM-MOH committee set a floor rate for GP consultation fees for TPAs.
After a more comprehensive regulatory mechanism for TPAs is set up in five years, together with an appropriate floor rate for GP fees, then GP consultation fees should be completely deregulated.
“We don’t want them coming again after 10 to 15 years, asking the health minister to increase their fees,” said Dr Yii.
The Sarawakian MP also said issues like mandatory prescriptions, itemised billing, or drug price display should be placed under MOH’s jurisdiction instead of other ministries because the needs of doctors are “different”.
