Dental charges to be increased

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PETALING JAYA: There will be an increase in the nominal dental charges for treatment at government clinics from next month, according to a Health Ministry circular.

But the good news is the new rates will not be imposed on patients who cannot afford it.

Health Ministry director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said a viral message on the new rates reflected basic cost of dental treatment for 2017 in Malaysia without subsidies.

The Government was committed to continuing subsidising third class patients who, he said, received 98% of subsidies for medical and dental cost.

He said charges will only be increased for patients who could afford it or those in the first and second class.

The circular said that extractions, which cost RM1 now, will be done for RM15, the price of polishing will rise from RM2 to RM55 and that of fillings will go from RM2 to RM25.

The new rates were set to take effect from yesterday but the circular said that the date of implementation would be delayed until March 1.

Dr Noor Hisham in a statement assured the public the Government would not give up its responsibility it has towards the poor.

“They will continue to get quality healthcare at affordable rates as they had received previously,” he said.

In a separate statement yesterday, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said the Cabinet had decided to review some charges for the first and second class patients as these charges have not been reviewed for a long time.

“I would like to reassure all Malaysians that the Government will not shirk its responsibility to the poor and those from the low income group.

“They will continue to receive the high level of care that they have been receiving as before,” he said.