The recent gazettement of the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services (Amendment of Fee Schedule) Order 2026 marks a step forward. After years of delay, intermittent progress, and a period of political uncertainty, this long-awaited development has finally materialised.
We acknowledge and appreciate this, but we must also be clear: this is not a comprehensive reform. It is a partial adjustment, focused narrowly on consultation fees, while most of Schedule 7 remains unchanged since 2006.
At a time when many Malaysians are facing financial pressure, it is understandable that any mention of “fee increases” raises concern. We hear that concern. Clinics are not insulated from the same rising costs rent, utilities, staff salaries, medical supplies etc all have increased steadily over the years.
The difference is this: while many sectors adjust prices regularly, primary care clinics have operated within a framework that has remained largely static for decades.
General Practice Is More Than a Consultation Fee
A general practitioner’s (GP) clinic is not a transaction counter. It is part of the country’s frontline health care system.
Behind every consultation is a structure that includes:
- Ongoing care for chronic illnesses
- Preventive screening and early detection
- Ensuring the procurement of safe, effective and economically sustainable medicines
- Minor procedures and urgent care
- Medical documentation and regulatory compliance
- Staff, equipment, and facility costs
For many years, clinics have absorbed rising costs within a fee structure that did not move in tandem.
A Long-Delayed Adjustment, Not A Sudden Change
This amendment did not emerge overnight.
Efforts to revise Schedule 7 have been ongoing for more than a decade, with proposals discussed, refined, and at times reportedly reaching final stages then only to be deferred. The current revision addresses only a small portion of those long-standing concerns.
To put this into perspective: fuel prices are reviewed weekly. Yet, the cost of delivering primary health care shaped by decades of inflation and increasing expectations has seen only limited adjustment.
This is not about sudden increases. It is about delayed alignment.
What Actually Changed And What Remains Unchanged
While the recent amendment introduces adjustments to consultation fees and selected areas, it is important to recognise that a substantial portion of Schedule 7 remains unchanged.
Many clauses covering procedures, investigations, reports, and other components of care continue to reflect a fee structure that has not been comprehensively updated since 2006.
The current revision therefore addresses only a limited segment of the broader framework, leaving significant areas still operating under outdated provisions.
Why This Matters To The Public
This is not just about doctors. Primary care clinics are often the first and most accessible point of care for the public. When cost pressures accumulate without corresponding updates, clinics are forced to make difficult decisions ie limit services, reduce capacity, or delay investments in better care.
For example, a typical GP consultation fee in 2006 could still fall within today’s regulated range, yet the cost of running a clinic from rent and staff salaries to basic medical supplies has increased several-fold over the same period. The gap has not been theoretical; it has been absorbed quietly, year after year.
Many have chosen, for years, to absorb these pressures quietly but sustainability matters. A system that does not adjust gradually risks sharper disruptions later.
A Balanced View Is Needed
We appreciate that any fee-related change must be handled carefully, especially in the current economic climate.
But it is equally important that partial updates are not misunderstood as broad increases, nor framed in a way that suggests the profession is acting out of step with public interest.
This amendment addresses only one visible component. The larger structure remains overdue for review.
What Should Happen Next
This should not be the endpoint. We respectfully call for:
- A comprehensive review of Schedule 7: Address all components not just consultation fees.
- Regular, structured updates: Avoid decades long gaps that lead to sudden adjustments.
- Clear public communication: Ensure that partial changes are explained in full context.
- Continued engagement with stakeholders: Build solutions that balance sustainability and affordability.
We appreciate that progress has been made. But after more than 30 years of accumulated pressure, a partial adjustment cannot be mistaken for resolution.
Primary care has remained accessible because many clinics have carried these pressures over time. Ensuring that it remains sustainable will require more than incremental change. This is not about asking for more. It is about ensuring that what exists today can continue to serve the public tomorrow.
This statement was issued by Dr Eugene Chooi, president of the Private Medical Practitioners’ Association of Selangor and Kuala Lumpur (PMPASKL).
- This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of CodeBlue.
