PETALING JAYA: The revised general practitioners' consultation fee will be monitored closely to ensure its intent is not undermined in practice, says the Federation of Private Medical Practitioners’ Associations Malaysia (FPMPAM).
"While the revised RM10 to RM80 range provides some flexibility, its real impact will depend on how it is implemented in practice, particularly within existing managed care and third-party administrator arrangements, where pricing may not be fully market-driven," its president Dr Shanmuganathan TV Ganeson said in a statement on Friday (April 3).
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"The revision is a long-overdue correction of an outdated fee structure... more than 30 years (old), rather than a conventional fee increase.
"The experience of this revision highlights the need for a more structured and regular mechanism for fee review, to avoid prolonged stagnation and ensure timely, evidence-based adjustments that balance affordability with the sustainability of medical practice," he added.
The revised fee of between RM10 and RM80, under Schedule 7 of the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998, was announced in October.
The gazettement of the revision came into effect on April 2.
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The previous fee range was capped at RM10 to RM35.
Dr Shanmuganathan said the gazette was the beginning of continued reform to ensure a fair and sustainable primary care system.
"Reform must be continuous, otherwise we risk repeating the cycle of delay and correction.
"We also note that consultation fees under Schedule 13 (for practitioners in private hospitals), which have remained unchanged since 2013, will require similar attention," he said, adding that FPMPAM looks forward to further engagement with the authorities on this next phase.
