Malaysia’s general practitioners need help

THE Malaysian general practitioners (GP) fraternity is deeply disappointed with the recent Cabinet decision to turn down their request to harmonise GP fees and for approving the drug price control

in private clinics. As it stands, the current GP fees of RM10 to RM35 per consultation is based on the Malaysian Medical Association fees schedule of 1992, which has not been changed for 27 years. Nowhere else have fees remained static for more than a quarter of a century. Please note that the maximum fee, RM35, is only for complex cases, which may take the doctor half an hour or more to manage. Simple cases are supposed to be charged only RM10!