https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2025/05/...ew-pricing-rule

Clinic bills set to soar: Doctors warn of 30pct hike under new pricing rule

PETALING JAYA: Private medical practitioners have warned that treatment charges at clinics and hospitals could rise by as much as 30 per cent due to the enforcement of a new pricing directive.

The Federation of Private Medical Practitioners' Associations Malaysia (FPMPAM) said that patients would bear the brunt of the cost increase, as clinics were now required to itemise charges that were previously bundled under a single fee.

Its president Dr Shanmuganathan T.V. Ganeson said that the new rule disrupted the existing billing system, in which consultation, treatment, and medication were charged together.

"Clinics now have to unbundle costs, including operating expenses, which must be separately listed on the bill," said Dr Shanmuganathan.

According to Utusan Malaysia, estimates suggest that patient charges could rise by between 10 and 30 per cent, depending on the type of treatment and medication. In some cases, a standard consultation may cost RM10 to RM30 more than before.


On May 6, some 200 doctors gathered at Laman Perdana near Perdana Putra in Putrajaya to protest the new directive.

The group assembled at 9.30am before a 10-member delegation, led by Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) representative Datuk Dr R. Thirunavukarasu, entered the Prime Minister's Office to submit a memorandum.

The protesters urged the government to review Act 723 and place regulation of medical practice solely under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 (Act 586), which they argued was sufficient for the sector.

While protests continue, most private clinics have already begun displaying medicine prices, as required. Bundled billing remains in place at many clinics for the time being, pending a decision from the Health Ministry.

Patients may begin to see higher bills as early as August if no changes are introduced during the grace period.

"Once the grace period ends, clinics will be required to provide a full breakdown of all charges," Dr Shanmuganathan said.

The price display requirement, gazetted on May 1, falls under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 (Act 723) and is enforced by the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry. It applies to all private clinics, hospitals, and pharmacies.



TLDR : title and great, my antibiotic about to expensive 30%

how we protest back?


dont get sick ?

Pull a Luigi?

Boykote

why being transparent increases the price. I’m confused

Eh itemise also increase cost meh?

Crooks.

This doctor think we born yesterday ka, unbundle will increase cost apa lj

Hopefully overall cost remains the same.

Meds prices down due to cannot con money here 😁
So, consultation has to go up to maintain ARPU...

Dulu, $50 med, $50 consult = $100
Now, $30 med, $70 consult = $100

?

Anyway, consultation fee has been stagnant for 3 decades

exactly, as I said couple of other threads, I dont see anything good that is going to come out of this exercise, end of the customers are gonna lose.

At least with current system, the consultancy is low, 30-40bucks, and I dont need to take the medicine from the clinic if Im paying myself, I just take the prescription and buy the drug at pharmacy.

And those who has insurance, anyways, its being paid by company.

Isn't consultation and medicine usually separate even in clinics? What bundle are they talking about?

Kekwa
Macam fastfood dah. Alacarte lagi mahal dari combo.

La ktards, when your didi painful due to too much prawn, who is the one who help you? When did kena std from 2feidai ada pus ada blood, who is the one who save your didi?

Ni 30% je increase, doktor kan suci murni prihatin to your well being? 30% is a steal. We should give more to our dear doktors

Doctor mah...

itemise cost 3 minutes extra writing effort... that's a 30% increase in cost... Tuna Seng ah... these doctors...

This post has been edited by thankyou: May 21 2025, 12:57 AM

Possible reasons are the overhead to create all those pricelist and combinations.

The simplest explanation is that previously they just put a number that "feels" right. Doctors are generally not businessman, so they likely kept their calculations simple. Some items might be sharing margins, but if all itemized out, every item will have its own margin.

consultation fees are fixed by gomen (currenly RM35).

bang, that pureawesomeness went to RM1 klinik la... you think he will pay for private GP meh?

This post has been edited by diffyhelman2: May 21 2025, 01:17 AM

Cabai Madani
1. TNB hike
2. Insurance hike
3. Medical treatment now hike

but in 1990s or maybe early 2000s, GP dont dare charge maximum consultation fee, if maximum charge were rm35, they only charge rm10. now every doctor charge the ceiling rate.

what if this itemized bill and medication price list is actually being lobbied by the insurance companies. the consumer only want to be as minimum as possible.