The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has slammed the government for enforcing a policy mandating private clinics to display the prices of medicines without first addressing long-standing issues, particularly the consultation fees for general practitioners (GPs).
MMA president Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira said the decision, gazetted with just one day’s notice, went against a commitment made earlier this year by health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad.
“At the meeting on price transparency in February, the minister clearly stated that medicine price display for private GP clinics would only be implemented after the long-overdue revision of GP consultation fees.
“Unfortunately and sadly, this commitment has not been honoured,” he said in a statement tonight.
Kalwinder also said Dzulkefly had reportedly promised to meet with MMA and other stakeholders again to address concerns about the policy, but there had not been any meeting.
A separate request by MMA to meet the domestic trade and cost of living ministry has also gone unanswered, he added.
The health ministry today announced that medicine price display at clinics will be mandatory starting tomorrow, a move strongly opposed by MMA and other medical groups.
They argue that the rule should fall under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 – not the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 – and have urged for its delay until key issues such as the revision of GP consultation fees have been resolved.
Consultation fees have remained unchanged in the last 30 years.
Kalwinder said doctors nationwide are now feeling “frustrated and angry” over what MMA sees as excessive regulation under a non-medical law.
“In view of these unresolved issues, the MMA strongly urges the government to halt any requirement for medicine price display at private clinics.
“This will allow for proper engagement and resolution of the concerns raised, including the need for a long-overdue revision of private GP consultation fees and engagement on the mechanism and scope of the medicine price display policy,” he added.
