Errant doctors face RM300,000 fine

NST: PETALING JAYA: The Oct 31 deadline for the registration of clinics has come and gone but there are still some 150 doctors who have not done so.
These errant doctors could expect a knock on their clinic doors soon as Health Ministry officials would be checking their premises which are now deemed illegal.
Enforcement officers are still gathering information before raiding the clinics. Doctors practising in unregistered clinics can be fined up to RM300,000 under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998.
To date, 7,200 doctors have registered their clinics as required under the Act which came into force in May this year.
"Some 98 per cent of private practitioners have registered their clinics. We believe another two per cent have not. We will know the actual figure in two weeks when all the states submit their reports," Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said after opening the five-day Asia-Pacific Joint Forum at the Sheraton Hotel in Subang yesterday.
This would be the first time the ministry would have a comprehensive picture on the private clinics in the country.
"Until now, it was only an estimation. We will now have the actual figure," Dr Chua said, adding that those who had not registered their clinics should do so quickly.
Doctors nationwide were given six months to comply with the Act. Some flexibility was given following meetings with representatives of private hospitals and clinics.
However, there was no compromise where patients’ rights were concerned. These include the right to know, to consent, to air their grievances, to receive emergency treatment and quality care.