PETALING JAYA: Improvements to the Madani Medical Scheme (SPM) are welcome, but early engagements with stakeholders during the planning stage should have been done, says the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA).
"This is for smooth implementation of any future public-private partnership," said MMA president Dr Azizan Abdul Aziz.
She said on Sept 15, ProtectHealth notified GPs participating in the scheme that the consultation fee had been raised from RM30 to RM35, along with the limit for combined consultation and medicines per visit from RM60 to RM70.
"The MMA had been in discussion with the MOH and ProtectHealth to increase the limit in consultation fees to RM50.
“Although it is not the increase we had hoped for, we welcome it as a positive development," she said in a statement on Monday (Sept 25).
Dr Azizan added that ProtectHealth also added 20 drugs to the medication list, and the scheme was extended nationwide from Sept 15.
"The government should look into allowing co-payments for some instances as currently (with the capped amount of RM70 for consultation and medicines per visit), the scheme doesn't let patients willing to pay more out-of-pocket for certain illnesses that may not require a hospital referral.
"For example, acute asthma care with an infection may cost more. In such cases, the patient should be allowed to pay the additional charges, which may be between RM90 and RM100,” she said.
