KUALA LUMPUR: More patients are seeking treatment at Klinik 1Malaysia as the cost of private healthcare goes up.
Insurance agent Mohamad Nazri visited one such clinic in Cheras here due to the lower rates.
“I prefer coming here for common illnesses as the fees are much lower,” said the 23-year-old who is suffering from headaches.
Teacher Sheikh Ramli was there with his three daughters as one was feeling feverish. He feared she was down with dengue.
“I am confident of the quality of doctors here,” said the 41-year-old.
He was also happy that schoolchildren with valid letters from their school could receive treatment for free.
Senior citizen K. Neelavathi was also at the clinic to seek relief from fever.
She was accompanied by her 25-year-old daughter who only wanted to be known as Tina.
“This is our first time in this clinic but past experiences with another Klinik 1Malaysia have been satisfactory,” she said.
Medical services such as treatment for colds, fevers as well as follow-up visits for diabetes, high blood pressure and others are available for Malaysians at RM1 and RM15 for foreigners.
Another patient, V. Nadarajan, 64, frequents 1Malaysia clinics to care for his amputated leg.
“It is convenient and the staff are caring,” he said.
The Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 was recently amended to raise private medical fees.
Cost of consultations, for instance, increased by over 200% from a range of RM10 to RM35 to a new range of RM30 to RM125.
While private medical practitioners say the rise is long overdue, many patients say they find the revised fees a difficult pill to swallow.
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