The recent directive by a third-party administrator (TPA) instructing panel hospitals to prioritise local over general anaesthesia is deeply troubling and unacceptable. This move not only compromises patient safety but also undermines the integrity and autonomy of medical practice.
As doctors, we must never forget the oath we took upon entering this profession, the Hippocratic Oath, and our sacred duty to put patients’ health and safety above all else.
We are bound by the Code of Professional Conduct and its guidelines set by the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC), which clearly outlines our responsibilities, standards of care, and ethical obligations.
No TPA, individual doctor, or private association has the authority to dictate clinical decisions that overrides these principles.
We strongly urge all TPAs to familiarise themselves with the MMC’s guidelines on managed care and to refrain from interfering with clinical decision making. Matters concerning rules, regulations, and standards of medical practice fall squarely under the jurisdiction of the MMC, not any third-party administrator.
It is the MMC, not TPAs that sets the standards and governs the medical profession.
To our fellow doctors: this is a stern reminder that our primary duty is to our patients and to the ethical framework we swore to uphold. We must not allow ourselves to be pressured into practices that may jeopardise patient safety or expose us to medico-legal issues, which can lead to devastating legal and financial consequences.
The medical profession must speak with one voice: patient care must never be compromised for administrative convenience or cost-cutting measures.
TPAs should focus on others not dictating clinical decisions. Any overreach into medical practice is not only inappropriate but dangerous.
Let us remain steadfast in upholding the highest standards of care and resist any attempts to erode the sanctity of our profession. We answer to our patients and to the MMC, not to TPAs.
This statement was issued by Private Medical Practitioners’ Association of Selangor and Kuala Lumpur (PMPASKL) president Dr Eugene Chooi.
- This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of CodeBlue.
