MMA Proposes Sticker For Registered Private Clinics

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 1 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA), Wednesday proposed that the Health Ministry consider issuing a sticker or symbol to private clinics upon registration.
Its president, Datuk Dr Teoh Siang Chin, said the sticker or symbol could be displayed clearly at the clinic for the public to know that they were receiving treatment at a clinic recognised by the ministry.
"At present, private clinics that register are only given a receipt for the registration," he said when welcoming the ministry's move to enforce the registration requirement.
The Health Ministry has insisted on the registration requirement according to the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998, and the period of registration ended, Tuesday.
However, registered doctors who run their operations at unregistered clinics can still apply for registration after the deadline but their premises will be inspected.
Dr Teoh said the ministry must act to track down irresponsible facilities masquerading as medical clinics and added that the MMA supported the ministry's move to conduct checks on errant doctors who have failed to register their clinics.
He was optimistic that with the enforcement, many unqualified and unregistered facilities would be shut down.
"We hope that all grassroots officers of the enforcement team will take cognisance of the principles of the act and enforce them firmly and fairly. The many other facilities masquerading as medical clinics should be the primary focus of the enforcement team," he said.
Dr Teoh said the MMA had not received any major complaints from its 13,000 members pertaining to the registration.
The act, which came into effect on May 1 this year, has among other things imposed stricter punishment for private doctors and clinics who breach the act.
Doctors who fail to register their clinics can be fined up to RM300,000 or jailed six years, or both.