Medicine based on care, not price

THE Federation of Private Medical Practitioners’ Associations Malaysia (FPMPAM) supports the recent statement by the Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM) rejecting the call by insurance and takaful operators to freeze private healthcare costs, and for the Health Ministry to regulate prices of medication – the latter would mean restricting the choice of medicines given to patients based purely on price rather than on need and cost effectiveness.

The rising cost of medical care is influenced by multiple factors beyond the control of the doctor; this includes wages, higher prices for medical supplies, increased operational costs and the growing burden of medical liability (ie rising insurance premiums for doctors and hospitals). Any attempt to artificially freeze costs could compromise the quality of healthcare services and restrict patient access to timely and necessary treatment.