PETALING JAYA: Private general practice may turn into a “sunset industry” due to the double whammy of outdated consultation fees and the rising cost of medication, a group has sounded the alarm.
Federation of Private Medical Practitioners Associations Malaysia president Dr Shanmuganathan TV Ganeson said consultation fees are stipulated by the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act.
Consultation fees for private general practitioners (GPs) and dental clinics are capped at RM10 to RM35 under Schedule 7 of the Act.
Private hospital specialists’ consultation fees are legislated at a rate of RM80 to RM235 under Schedule 13 of the same Act.
Dr Shanmuganathan said consultation fees have remained stagnant for over three decades, while rising drug prices have affected GPs.
“We are stuck – on one side we cannot increase consultation fees, on the other side, everything is going up. Maybe we are seeing a sunset industry. It (private practice) is not viable,” he said.
He said medicine prices increase from time to time. Private GPs will have to pass it on to patients or absorb it, which will also mean that the take-home pay for GPs will be lower.
“We cannot blame the drug producers either, because the cost of raw materials and logistics have gone up. That is the situation as it is. I think everybody is affected in one way or the other,” he said.
He added that the price hike schedules vary according to companies.
“I can say that every one to two months, some company will increase its prices,” he said.
Dr Shanmuganathan said medicines come pre-packaged these days – for example, cough syrups come in 60ml or 90ml bottles while tablets come in strips. Previously, clinics used to purchase in bulk and then dispense the medicines in bottles.
“Those days, if prices went up, we could reduce the amount of medicine and ask patients to take it for a few days, wait and see (if it works), and then come back, and so on.
“Nowadays, we give it as it is – so we can’t cut the price either,” he added.
Another senior GP who spoke on condition of anonymity said it is time the Health Ministry takes proactive action to review consultation fees.
“Our operating costs are high and it seems that there is a lack of initiative and interest on the government’s part to look into this matter.
“We do not have much of a buffer with the consultation fee either. There must be political will to look into this too,” he said.
In December 2019, the then Cabinet – led by Pakatan Harapan – decided to deregulate the professional fees for GPs, dentists and specialists. However, that move did not come into effect.
On May 2 this year, Health director-general Datuk Dr Radzi Abu Hassan said the government may restructure the consultation fees after Parliament approves the Health White Paper.
