LETTER | The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) wishes to thank the Health Ministry and stakeholders at the Town Hall meeting held on Aug 27 regarding the amendment of Schedule 7 of the PHFSA Regulations for Clinics containing the general practitioner’s fees.

The agreement for amendment is actually a harmonisation of General Practitioner’s fees from the Malaysian Medican Association 4th fees schedule way back in 2002 recommending simple consultation of RM35 to complex consultation of RM125.

The town hall meeting was for the purpose of gazettement of the 2002 recommendation so that general practitioner’s fees are regulated with a sustainable quantum.

MMA wishes to assure the public that these fees gazettement will not reflect an increase in total overall medical charges as the majority of general practitioner’s consultations is simple as shown by the statistics as well as cross-subsidies from medication charges.

In reality, the foreseeable benefits will be a more sustainable general practice that will provide more cost-efficient and core medical services to the public, uplifting better care and maintaining primary care as the backbone of healthy services.

The writer is the president of MMA.

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