THE Ministry of Health (MoH) is in the final stages of discussions with the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) to determine the consultation fees for private general practitioners (GPs).
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said this revision of consultation fees under Schedule 7 of Act 586 should have been updated alongside Schedule 13, which was implemented in the first quarter of 2019.
“We are currently in discussions with DOSM to finalise the fee based on data.
“For now, it stands from RM10 to RM35, and we will be making an announcement soon,” he said in Sungai Buloh last night.
Dzulkefly said he has received support and approval from the National Cost of Living Action Council (NACCOL) to review and address the revision of Schedule 7.
“I have secured the support and endorsement from NACCOL, the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim), and the Ministry of Finance. So, insya-Allah, this matter will be decided very soon,” he said.
In November 2024, Dzulkefly announced that the government would require all private healthcare facilities to display medicine prices as part of efforts to enhance cost transparency in medical treatment.
The Federation of Private Medical Practitioners’ Associations Malaysia (FPMPAM) had recently said private GP consultation fees should be raised to a fair fee of RM50 to RM150, aligning with actual operational costs.
Its president Dr Shanmuganathan TV Ganeson said this was necessary to keep GP clinics open and primary care sustainable.
"This is not a sudden price hike ... GP consultation fees have remained stagnant since 2006.
“In 2006, the capped consultation fee was RM10 to RM35. Based on Bank Negara Malaysia’s official inflation rate (CPI), cumulative inflation from 2006 to 2024 is approximately 60 to 70 per cent.
“Adjusting for inflation alone, the equivalent GP consultation fee today should be RM16 to RM60. However, medical cost inflation (which outpaces general inflation) suggests a fair fee of RM50 to RM15," he said. - March 14, 2025
