‘UMMC move could lead to patients overcrowding govt facilities’
PETALING JAYA: The move by a major teaching hospital in Malaysia to raise its consultation and admission charges is a signal that the country needs to promptly address rising healthcare costs, say medical professionals.
Referring to Universiti Malaya Medical Centre’s announcement of new fees and service charges effective Jan 1, public health expert Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar said the government has to step in with remedial and strategic measures to address the issue as it impacts those from the lower-income group.
“If not tackled properly, there could be a higher volume of patients overcrowding government healthcare facilities,” he said when asked to comment about UMMC’s move to raise its medical charges between 167% and 233%.
“Those who are not civil servants and from lower-income groups will pay more out of their pockets. They will surely be affected and will be left with no other choice but to seek treatment at government healthcare facilities.
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“With government hospitals already overburdened and its staff overworked, this will only exacerbate the situation. The government must address this issue with a comprehensive framework.”
He said the plan to have a national healthcare insurance scheme must be promptly carried out to avoid any unwanted situations.
Prof Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia said the hike in charges by UMMC, although justifiable as the operating costs of teaching hospitals are high, should have been gradual with pre-notification carried out earlier to allow lower-income groups to cope with the price changes.
She explained that the high costs of running teaching hospitals was due to the usage of original or brand name drugs, the employment of highly qualified professionals and the use of state-of-the art medical equipment.
Those affected by the hike should seek the various welfare schemes and aid offered by the government and NGOs, she said.
“The charges may rise but those affected by it may not need to fork out the whole amount incurred. They can receive free medical services or partial subsidies from various schemes such as PeKa B40. There are also religious associations that offer to undertake medical charges.
“This must be made known to all so that those who are entitled are aware of the availability of such funding. Otherwise, they will end up seeking treatment at government hospitals. There they will face long waiting times and other setbacks from the high volume of patients,” she said.
Asked if UKM’s teaching hospitals would raise its medical fees as well, Sharifa said the university had no plans of doing so for now.
Petaling Jaya resident Alan Tan, who is in his 50s and regularly seeks treatment at UMMC, said the option to go to government hospitals would be a bane to residents here as they are far away.
“The UMMC is the closest to PJ residents. It is convenient especially during emergencies. Precious time will be wasted when a patient has to be driven to government hospitals in Shah Alam, Sungai Buloh or even Kuala Lumpur.”
Tan said he was recently warded at the UMMC for an ailment for five days.
“I did not undergo any surgery or special medical procedures and my bill came up to about RM1,500. Although I felt it was fair in comparison to private hospitals, it is still high for a low-income earner. With the higher charges, where will those with low-income go?”
Housewife M. Mary, 77, who also seeks treatment at UMMC, said the increased charges would cause a dent in her savings.
UMMC’s charges were last revised in 2019. In a statement on Friday, it explained that “the charges are based on an activity-based costing method which factors in all expenses, an approach which ensures a comprehensive calculation of the services provided to patients”.
UMMC, which is the country’s largest and oldest teaching hospital that treats about one million patients annually with over 90% of them as outpatients, said it was responsible for generating its own income although government assistance remains its main source of funding.
Eligible patients who could not afford the charges would be referred to its assessment unit and offered aid under the MySalam scheme, it said.
