BY LOH FOON FONG
PETALING JAYA: The increase in the cap for private medical fees has taken employers by surprise.
Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) executive director Datuk Shamsuddin Bardan said it appeared to have been done in a secretive manner, and that the MEF and consumer interest groups had not been consulted about it.
“The Health Ministry should have talked to us because by law, employers have to bear the rise in medical costs for their employees,” he said.
Shamsuddin added that most big companies were generous enough to provide medical care for their workers, but the increase could push up the cost of doing business.
On Monday, it was highlighted that the medical fee revision as per the 13th Schedule of the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 (Private Hospitals and Other Private Healthcare Facilities) Regulations 2006 was implemented without sufficient publicity and awareness.
The amendment, passed administratively by the Cabinet on Oct 12, 2012, raised the cap for professional fees, including for consultation and performance of procedures, of registered private medical and dental practitioners.
Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Datuk Dr N.K.S. Tharmaseelan said the gazetting of the Cabinet decision was put on hold because the MMA had strongly objected to the quantum, which it regarded as marginal given it is less than half of the 30% increment that it had sought.
Medical Practitioners Coalition Association of Malaysia president Dr Jim Loi said general practitioners (GP) had problems covering their overheads, and the fee cap increase was much needed.
He said the cost of running a simple clinic was between RM11,000 and RM15,000 a month in urban centres such as the Klang Valley, Penang or Johor Baru.
A clinic seeing 500 patients a month and charging a consultation fee of RM20 per person would collect only RM10,000, which alone is insufficient to cover the overheads, Dr Loi said.
“It is likely that the average GP is surviving on the margins from medication he dispenses, and from consultations which are more complex, besides procedures such as electrocardiograms, X-rays, ultrasounds and minor surgeries,” he said, adding that those struggling with overheads could end up working seven days a week, clocking in at least 12 hours on a typical workday.
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