PETALING JAYA: The government should halt excessive interference and over-regulation of private medical practice in the country, says the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA).
This comes in response to a recent parliamentary reply that the National Action Council on Cost of Living (Naccol) had “mandated” itemised billing and mandatory prescriptions in private medical clinics.
“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 non-health ministries,” said MMA president Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira in a statement on Thursday (Aug 7).
He said 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 (MMC, 2025), which require doctors to provide them upon patient's request after consultation is done.
MMA warned that ongoing encroachments by non-health bodies into medical policy are setting a dangerous precedent.
The association called on the Health Ministry to “stand its ground” and protect the autonomy and professional integrity of medical practitioners.
Another key point raised was the long-standing issue of outdated consultation fees for general practitioners (GPs).
The MMA expressed deep frustration over the 34-year delay in revising the GP consultation fee structure.
“Over-regulating general practice and placing undue pressure on GPs will have far-reaching consequences, not only for GPs but also for the long-term sustainability of the country’s primary healthcare ecosystem,” Dr Kalwinder warned, noting that closures of GP clinics would only shift the burden onto public healthcare facilities.
The MMA reiterated that healthcare policies must focus on improving patient access, safety, and outcomes, not adding bureaucratic burdens that could compromise the quality and sustainability of care.
