Unhappy doctors to pass on costs

NST: KUALA LUMPUR: Doctors have threatened to pass on to patients the costs incurred in complying with requirements of a controversial new Act.
Although doctors have started registering their clinics with the Malaysian Medical Association, many are still disgruntled with the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 which aims to regulate private clinics.
Several doctors said yesterday they had no choice but to increase their fees to cover the cost of renovating their clinics and buying new equipment as required by the Act.
Primary care physician Dr M. Mahendran said some of the requirements in the Act were unnecessary and costly.
"The Act requires private general practitioners to put up certain types of flooring, walls and ceiling. It even has a specific size of door and ramps that should be fitted in clinics.
"It will cost us between RM20,000 and RM30,000 to follow these requirements. Most doctors will pass the buck to consumers to recover the cost," he said.
Dr Mahendran was speaking after a Press conference by the MMA on the exercise to register doctors.
Speaking on behalf of other unhappy doctors, Dr Mahendran said some of the requirements did not serve any purpose and should be scrapped.
"Some of the doctors spent between RM100,000 and RM150,000 to set up their clinics. Now, the Health Ministry wants them to tear down their entrances and build entrances of a particular size," he said.
Dr Rajamohan Annamalai, a doctor of 25 years, said most doctors were not against the Act but only some of the requirements.
He said it was unnecessary for private clinics to buy equipment such as oxygen tanks, fire extinguishers and cardiac arrest machines.
"The general practitioners are governed by market forces. Those who are good get more patients.
"Furthermore, clinics in rural areas do not need most of these items," he said.
Members of the public are unhappy that the costs will be passed on to them.
Copywriter Muhd Redzuan Kamil said the ministry should review the requirements.
He hoped both parties would come to an understanding so that the public would not be burdened.
A 57-year-old pensioner, S. Gabriel, urged doctors not to increase their charges.
A compromise should be arrived at, added Gabriel.
Meanwhile, MMA president Datuk Dr Teoh Siang Chin advised all general practitioners and dentists to register their clinics.
To date, about 2,200 doctors have registered.
There are about 6,000 general practitioners and 3,000 specialists running private clinics and 1,490 dentists running their own practice.
Those who do not register face a fine of up to RM300,000 or a jail term of six years.