DOCTORS and dentists in private practice will be able to set their own consultation fees, said Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.

In a statement, he said cabinet has decided to deregulate the fee structure, leaving doctors and dentists to fix their own consultation fees according to the free market.

The decision to deregulate, he added, will enhance the public’s right to choose their doctors.

Dzulkefly said the decision came after general practitioners (GPs) in private clinics complained the current fees of RM10 to RM35 have not been revised since 1992.

At the same time, their peers in private hospitals have been charging between RM30 and RM125 per consultation.

He said the dissatisfaction of the GPs in standalone clinics was first discussed at the National Cost of Living Council meeting before being brought up in the cabinet.

He added the cabinet was concerned about the need to amend the Seventh Schedule of the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services (Private Medical Clinics and Private Dental Clinics) Regulations 2006, which had not been amended since 2006.

The fees for GPs and dentists, under the Seventh Schedule, have not changed in almost 30 years, he said, as they have been calling for a fee harmonisation since 2013.

He said in that year, the consultation fee was gazetted for medical officers working in private hospitals under the 13th Schedule, but overlooked GPs and dentists working in private clinics under the Seventh Schedule.

Malaysian Medical Association president Dr N. Ganabaskaran called the government’s decision a bold move.

“Free market gives the power to the public to decide on the type of value based services they would like to have,” he said in a statement.

GPs and dentists will have to display clearly their consultation fees in their clinics and hospitals to ensure patients are informed before getting treatment. – December 7, 2019.