The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has panned the National Action Council on Cost of Living’s (Naccol) role in regulating healthcare services, particularly over the issue of itemised billing and mandatory prescriptions in private clinics.
MMA president Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira stressed that Naccol’s role is to address cost of living concerns.
“Naccol is not in the field of medical practice and medical laws that were established to protect patients and uphold the standards of safe and effective care,” he said in a statement.
He also pointed out that itemised billing is already practised in private clinics, in line with the Private Healthcare Facilities & Services Act 1998, while prescriptions are already covered under the Poisons Act 1952 and the Guidelines for Good Dispensing Practice.
Yesterday, domestic trade and cost of living deputy minister Fuziah Salleh told the Dewan Rakyat that Naccol had made several key decisions with regards to healthcare, including mandatory itemised billing and prescriptions for every patient consultation.
Kalwinder urged the health ministry to firmly safeguard the integrity and autonomy of the medical profession, following incidents of non-medical Acts being imposed on healthcare facilities.
“The regulation and governance of healthcare must strictly remain under the jurisdiction of the health ministry, without interference or overreach by any non-medical act or other ministries.
“It is imperative that the health ministry stands its ground in ensuring that healthcare policy decisions are guided by medical expertise and professional standards,” he said.
Kalwinder also highlighted the sector’s concern and frustration with the prolonged inaction on the revision of consultation fees for general practitioners (GPs), which have remained unchanged for 34 years.
“Despite the MMA having raised this issue repeatedly and having brought it up with Naccol, the health ministry and also at all levels of government, there has yet to be any definitive decision on the matter,” he said.
He urged this issue to be addressed with “the urgency and seriousness it deserves” as it affected the sustainability of primary care services by GPs, adding that it should not be pushed around for repeated reviews and studies without any decision.
On Sunday, it was reported that the Cabinet had urged the health ministry to fine-tune its proposal for the consultation fee hike and to continue discussions with stakeholders.
