The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) refers to a recent media report on a parliamentary reply whereby the National Action Council on Cost of Living (NACCOL) has seemingly “mandated” itemised billing and mandatory prescriptions in private medical clinics.

As is commonly known, NACCOL’s role is to address cost-of-living concerns. NACCOL is not in the field of medical practice and medical laws which are established to protect patients; and uphold the standards of safe and effective care.

We wish to make it clear that patients already have these rights mentioned. Itemised billing is already practised in private clinics, in line with the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998(Act 586) while prescriptions are already covered under the Poisons Act 1952 and the Guidelines for Good Dispensing Practice (MMC, 2025), which require doctors to provide them upon patient’s request after consultation is done.

Recently, we have seen non-medical Acts being imposed on clinics and health care, and this must stop. We urge the health minister and the Ministry of Health (MOH) to firmly safeguard the integrity and autonomy of the medical profession.

The regulation and governance of health care must strictly remain under the jurisdiction of the MOH, without interference or overreach by any non-medical Act or other ministries.

It is imperative that the MOH stands its ground in ensuring that health care policy decisions are guided by medical expertise and professional standards.

MMA firmly believes that any policy changes affecting clinical practice must be centred around enhancing patient care, safety, and access, not administrative overreach.

Effective health care regulation should aim to build trust between patients and their doctors and support a sustainable primary care system.

We also note with the utmost concern and frustration the prolonged inaction regarding the revision of general practitioner (GP) consultation fees, which have remained unchanged for 34 years.

Despite the MMA having raised this issue repeatedly and having brought it up with NACCOL, the MOH, and also at all levels of the government, there has yet to be any definitive decision on the matter.

This important issue, which affects the sustainability of primary care services by GPs must be addressed with the urgency and seriousness it deserves and not pushed around for repeated reviews and studies without any decision forthcoming.

Over-regulating general practice and placing undue pressure on GPs will have far-reaching consequences, not only for GPs, but also for the long-term sustainability of the country’s primary health care ecosystem.

Closure of GP clinics will ultimately cause public health care clinics to have to then bear the burden of the increasing number of patients.

This statement was issued by Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira, president of the Malaysian Medical Association. 

  • This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of CodeBlue.