KUALA LUMPUR, March 6 — A doctors’ group has told the government to increase private general practitioners’ (GPs) consultation fees by 329 per cent to RM50 to RM150 from the current RM10 to RM35 rate.
The Federation of Private Medical Practitioners’ Associations Malaysia’s (FPMPAM) demand goes further than the previously called for the harmonisation of clinic GPs fees under Schedule 7 of the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act (PHFSA) 1998 with fees by their hospital counterparts under Schedule 13 that are set at RM30 to RM125.
“This is not a sudden price hike, but a long-overdue correction necessary to keep GP clinics open and primary care sustainable,” FPMPAM president Dr Shanmuganathan TV Ganeson said in a statement today.
“For nearly two decades, general practitioners have been expected to operate with consultation fees capped at RM10 to RM35, while costs have risen drastically. Many small clinics are shutting down, forcing patients to seek more expensive hospital care.”
He suggested phased implementation of the new GP consultation fees over three to five years and to index the fees to medical inflation.
“Indexing fees to medical inflation means adjusting GP consultation fees periodically (e.g., every two to three years) based on the actual rise in health care costs rather than waiting decades for an ad hoc review. This ensures that GP fees keep up with the rising costs of running a clinic, including rent, utilities, staff salaries, and medical supplies.”
Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad reportedly told Ayer Hitam MP Wee Ka Siong in a written parliamentary reply that the Ministry of Health (MOH) is collaborating with the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) to determine a suitable review of private GPs’ consultation fees, adding that the review would consider the impact of fee adjustments on the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
In 2013, under then-Health Minister Dr S. Subramaniam, the Barisan Nasional (BN) government only increased GPs’ consultation fees by 14.4 per cent, even though a task force under the MOH had recommended an overall 30 per cent hike in medical consultation and procedural fees, as reflected by the CPI.
While hospital-based GP fees under Schedule 13 were increased 12 years ago following the Cabinet decision, clinic GPs were inexplicably missed out due to a “serious administrative failure” as the revision to Schedule 7 was never gazetted.
In 2019, under the first Pakatan Harapan (PH) government when Dzulkefly was also health minister, a regulatory impact analysis, a study on the impact of revised GP fees on the CPI, and multiple stakeholders’ engagements had already been conducted.
FPMPAM explained its basis for asking for a more than 300 per cent increase to GPs’ consultation fees to RM50 to RM150.
“To ensure transparency, FPMPAM has calculated the fair consultation fee using inflation data:
- In 2006, the capped consultation fee was RM10 to RM35.
- Based on Bank Negara Malaysia’s official inflation rate (CPI), cumulative inflation from 2006 to 2024 is approximately 60 per cent to 70 per cent.
- Adjusting for inflation alone, the equivalent GP consultation fee today should be RM16 to RM60.
- However, medical cost inflation (which outpaces general inflation) suggests a fair fee of RM50 to RM150, aligning with actual operational costs.”
Dr Shanmuganathan pointed out that the government’s own study – as presented at a National Cost of Living (Naccol) meeting attended by FPMPAM – showed a “negligible” impact on the CPI even if GP fees were set at RM60 per consultation.
“We urge the government to publish DOSM’s calculations and justify any concerns with data. If NACCOL itself found no CPI effect, why should GPs continue to suffer under outdated fees?”
FPMPAM stressed that keeping GP fees “artificially low” doesn’t save costs, but merely shifts the burden elsewhere.
“Clinic closures mean fewer affordable health care options, forcing patients into overcrowded government hospitals. Delayed treatment leads to higher costs for the government and insurance companies due to worsening health conditions. Private hospital consultations cost five times more than a GP visit, making health care even less accessible,” said the doctors’ group.
In a statement issued yesterday, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) said it had originally proposed the current RM10-RM35 consultation fee range in 1992 before this was incorporated into Schedule 7.
“However, there has been no adjustment of consultation fees at all since 1992, despite every other product and service having seen multiple increments over this period. Operational costs of running a clinic have also risen exponentially over the last 33 years,” said MMA president Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira.
“Many private clinics are struggling to stay afloat with the increasing costs of staff salaries, rentals, utilities and equipment in addition to increased costs associated with the many regulations that have been imposed over the years on general medical practices. The stagnant consultation fees and high operational costs have also led to many private clinics closing down over the past few years.”
MMA: GP Fees Stagnant For 33 Years
MMA noted that the government set consultation fees for medical officers in private hospital emergency departments at RM30 to RM125 in 2013.
“In 2015, MOH acknowledged that GP consultation fees should be aligned with this range, yet implementation was delayed due to non-technical reasons and never implemented,” said Dr Kalwinder.
“MMA hopes that the government, in its process of deciding on the quantum, will also look at the historical basis as mentioned above, as well as take into account the fact that this will be the first adjustment after 33 long years. It must also take into account key factors such as the rising cost of operating a clinic, whilst ensuring patient’s access to affordable primary care services remains.”
The doctors’ group also called for structured reviews of GP fees, based on economic factors and inflation, every three years, with adjustments of around 10 per cent in line with yearly inflation of approximately 3 per cent.
“A critical issue that must also be addressed is the role of third-party administrators (TPAs), as 65 per cent of urban patients receive health care benefits through these corporate arrangements. Many GPs are tied to TPA contracts that impose high administrative fees and fixed low consultation rates. This together with delayed payments, further puts strain on the financial viability of GP clinics.”
MMA’s statement did not specify its desired quantum of increase to GP fees.
