Materia Medica Malaysiana

Doc: Private wings do not mean cheaper fees

PETALING JAYA: The setting up of private wings in government hospitals will not mean that medical fees would be cheaper compared to private hospitals, said Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia president Datuk Dr Ridzwan Bakar.

He said fees charged would depend on the tests needed by the patients.

He said private wing charges would be different from those at private hospitals due to the cost of machines and efficiency of usage.

“Private hospitals are possibly more efficient in using the machines as the machines are used for more hours compared to those at private wings,” he said.

Dr Ridzwan was commenting on the recent statement by Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek that his ministry was looking into the feasibility of setting up private wings in government hospitals to halt the brain drain of doctors and specialists and follow-up reports that private hospitals were worried about competition from the private wings.

Private wings are available at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) and Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

Dr Ridzwan, who said the association was not in favour of private wings, said a quick check with the UMMC showed that charges for an abdomen ultrasound scan cost RM110 while a private hospital nearby charged RM10 less.

“This private hospital can give the report within two hours while the quickest UMMC can give the results is overnight,” he said.

Dr Ridzwan said private hospitals welcomed competition from private wings but said a level playing field should be given to all players.

“This means all players must be exposed to the same subsidies and business risks,” he said.

He said the theory private wings would help to retain specialists had yet to be proven as some might use the private wings as a “testing ground” before leaving for the private sector.

He also said the association would propose that specialists in government hospitals be allowed to have limited private practice.