Dzulkefly said he has received approval for the immediate review of the fees under Schedule 7 of the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 (Act 586).

The current consultation fee structure of between RM10 and RM35 has been in place since 1992.

“This revision will ensure fair and reasonable consultation fees for private GPs,” he said at a press conference at the Parliament building today.

“Not only has the National Action Council on Cost of Living agreed to this, but Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has (also) approved the revision.”

Dzulkefly also said while private hospitals and the Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia were ready to display medicine prices, private GPs were only prepared to comply if their consultation fees under Schedule 7 of Act 586 were revised.

“We are taking a multi-pronged approach to addressing medical inflation, and reviewing GP consultation fees is part of that effort,” he said.

In November last year, Dzulkefly told Parliament the government will require all private healthcare facilities to display medication prices this year, as part of a comprehensive initiative to improve transparency in healthcare costs.

The government has scheduled the medicine price display initiative to take place on May 1.

Last month, the Malaysian Medical Association urged the government to delay the implementation of mandatory price displays until key issues affecting private GPs were resolved.

Its president, Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira, said the two main issues were GP consultation fees, which have not changed in 30 years despite rising operational costs, and the unregulated sale of prescription drugs at pharmacies and online.

Earlier this month, the health ministry agreed to a temporary moratorium until May 1 to address these concerns and consider revisions to outdated consultation fees.