Association president Dr Mohamed Namazie Ibrahim said GPs were merely asking for the harmonisation and gazetting of the consultation fees agreed upon in 2013.

These were gazetted for medical officers working in private hospitals. but, somehow, GPs working in private clinics were overlooked, he said in a statement.

Namazie said the current fees of RM10-RM35 for GPs in private clinics had not been revised since 1992.

Medical officers in private hospitals, who had the same qualifications as GPs operating from shoplot clinics, were charging between RM30 and RM125 per consultation, he said.

Namazie said although the harmonisation of the fee schedule would mean an increase from RM10-RM35 per consultation to RM30-RM125, at least there would be a fee structure that GPs would have to adhere to.

He assured the public that any harmonisation of fees will not affect the B40 lower-income segment as they will still be charged affordable fees.

The harmonisation would be crucial for the sustainability of clinics nationwide and ensure corporations paid appropriate fees to GPs to look after the health of their employees, Namazie said.

“Currently, there are corporations willing to pay the high fees in private hospitals but hold back when it comes to GPs’ fees.”

Yesterday, Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad indicated that consultation fees of private clinic doctors might increase by the year-end.

He said his ministry would present a proposed fee hike to the National Cost of Living Action Council during its upcoming meeting.

He said this when addressing the grouses of GPs that the consultation fees had not been increased over the past 27 years.