Lukanisman said GP clinics have a role in ensuring that their fees are not too high.
“Under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1988 (Act 586), private clinics are allowed to charge RCCs, but these fees must be appropriate.
“Don’t overcharge. Clinics also need to have integrity in their display of prices,” he said in a press conference today.
He was speaking after the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the National Heart Institute (IJN) and health ministry to provide the Cardiovascular Prevention Continuous Medical Education programme for healthcare professionals in both public health clinics and private practices.
Lukanisman had been asked to comment on the call by the Federation of Private Medical Practitioners’ Associations, Malaysia (FPMPAM) yesterday for its members to add a RM20 fee to patients’ bills to cover the cost of complying with new government rules requiring clinics to display service prices.
FPMPAM said the proposed addition would help clinics cover compliance costs such as medical indemnity, waste disposal fees, and compliance with data protection laws.
The charge can be adjusted from time to time when newer laws are imposed, it said.
The new rule on pricing displays, starting next year under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011, was announced by health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad last week.
He said it would improve price transparency and prevent arbitrary price increases for medication.
Dzulkefly’s announcement did not sit well with medical associations like FPMPAM and the Malaysian Medical Association, which said the move would drive up operational costs and burden clinics.
Lukanisman said the rule had received positive response from the public online, and that engagement sessions would be held with industry players and pharmacies from time to time to assess its impact.
Meanwhile he said the proposed “uberisation” of ambulance services was still under discussion.
“This new concept may be applicable to big cities like Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu, but may be inappropriate in interior areas that still use the current ambulance services,” he said.
Last week, ministry deputy secretary-general (finance) Norazman Ayob said his ministry was exploring “uberising” ambulance services by making public and private ambulances accessible through an app.
He said the proposed app would enable callers to choose between government or private hospitals and track an ambulance’s journey and estimated time of arrival.