KUALA LUMPUR: The increase in private general practitioners' fees has been discussed at the Health Ministry's post Cabinet meeting, and will be brought up to the Cabinet, says Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
He said it was discussed Wednesday (Oct 3), following the Malaysian Medical Association's proposal and feedback from a townhall meeting in August.
"We will be bringing it up with the Cabinet," he said at the 3rd Malaysian Nursing Council International Nursing Conference on Thursday (Oct 4).
According to the ministry, it was waiting for feedback on the proposal from the Finance Ministry and the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry, before it is brought up to the Cabinet.
The Malaysian Medical Association president Dr Mohamed Namazie Ibrahim said that the new fee structure was just a harmonisation process. The consultation fees for GPs working in private hospitals was revised to RM35 to RM125 in 2013, but not for private GPs operating clinics from shoplots, which will remain between RM10 and RM35.
Meanwhile, Dr Dzulkefly also said that the ministry would look into graduate nurses who could not get into civil service at U41 grade, but were offered U29 grade for diploma holders.
He said the ministry had discussed the issue of job freeze, which affected other professions as well, at the post-Cabinet meeting.
He said that the job freeze had caused a shortage of staff, and it affected the hospitals under the purview of the ministry, as well as university hospitals.
"We can only make recommendations, and only the Public Service Department can make the decision," he said.Did you find this article insightful?
