The Private Medical Practitioners’ Association of Selangor and Kuala Lumpur said such directives compromised patient safety and undermined the integrity and autonomy of medical practice.
It said patient care must never be compromised for administrative convenience or cost-cutting measures, and that matters concerning rules, regulations, and standards of medical practice fall squarely under the jurisdiction of the Malaysian Medical Council.
The group’s president, Dr Eugene Chooi, said doctors must never forget the Hippocratic Oath they took upon entering the profession and their duty to put patients’ health and safety above all else.
Chooi said doctors were bound by MMC’s Code of Professional Conduct, which clearly outlines doctors’ responsibilities, standards of care, and ethical obligations.
“Let us remain steadfast in upholding the highest standards of care and resist any attempts to erode the sanctity of our profession. We answer to our patients and to MMC – not to TPAs,” said Chooi.
“No TPA, individual doctor, or private association has the authority to dictate clinical decisions that override these principles.
“We strongly urge all TPAs to familiarise themselves with MMC’s guidelines on managed care and to refrain from interfering with clinical decision making.”
Chooi added that doctors must not allow themselves to be pressured into practices that might jeopardise patient safety or expose them to medico-legal issues, warning that this could lead to “devastating” legal and financial consequences.
The Malaysian Medical Association yesterday expressed concern over a circular by the TPA directing healthcare providers on the choice of anaesthesia and the classification of certain procedures as daycare or in-patient.
In a statement, MMA president Dr R Thirunavukarasu said such directives amounted to interference in clinical autonomy and were a clear breach of medical ethics.
Last week, Thirunavukarasu called on the government to regulate TPAs and managed care organisations after a TPA ordered panel clinics to restrict employees to generic medicines for chronic illnesses.