Private general practitioners (GPs) in Malaysia are calling for significant increases in consultation fees, citing operational challenges and the rising costs of medical services. The Federation of Private Medical Practitioners’ Associations Malaysia (FPMPAM) has proposed raising consultation fees from the current RM10 to RM35 (S$3 to $10.50) to a range of RM50 to RM150.
Dr. Shanmuganathan T.V. Ganeson, president of FPMPAM, stated that the adjustment would be a long-overdue correction, rather than an abrupt price hike. He emphasized that the consultation fee structure has remained unchanged for 19 years, despite rising costs of rent, utilities, staff salaries, and medical supplies. Dr. Shanmuganathan also pointed out that many small clinics are closing, pushing patients toward more expensive hospital care.
Currently, there are about 8,000 GP clinics in Malaysia, a decrease from 9,800 in 2022. FPMPAM represents over 5,000 members. Dr. Shanmuganathan suggested that the fee hikes could be implemented gradually over three to five years, with periodic adjustments to account for medical inflation.
This proposal follows a recent outcry over health insurance premium increases. In December 2024, several insurance providers planned hikes of 40% to 70% in premiums for 2025, which led to public concern. In response, the government announced interim measures, including spreading the premium hikes over three years and imposing a 10% annual cap.
In January 2025, University Malaya Medical Centre, one of the largest public hospitals in Malaysia, raised its fees significantly, with specialist consultations increasing by over 200% to RM50 and general clinic visits tripling to RM15.
For many Malaysians, healthcare costs are already a burden. Suee Tiong, a 45-year-old IT manager, shared her concerns about rising fees. A visit to the GP for her child’s flu treatment cost her RM80, including prescribed antibiotics and a RM25 consultation fee. She noted that frequent medical visits for her children added up to RM160 a month, significantly impacting her budget.
“I save on medical expenses for my own check-ups by going to public health clinics that charge RM1 per visit,” Tiong said.
Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad announced in Parliament on March 4, 2025, that the Ministry of Health is collaborating with the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) to establish an appropriate fee range for private GP consultations. Dr. Mohd Uzir Mahidin, chief statistician at DOSM, confirmed that the department is collecting and analyzing data on prices to ensure accuracy.
FPMPAM noted that cumulative inflation since 2006 has been between 60% to 70%, making the current fee range outdated. They argue that, after adjusting for inflation, the equivalent GP consultation fee should range from RM16 to RM60. However, they suggest that due to medical cost inflation, a fair fee range would be RM50 to RM150.
The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) also supports the need for fee adjustments. MMA president Dr. Kalwinder Singh Khaira pointed out that the current fee structure has been in place since 1992, and despite calls for an increase, no adjustment has been made in the last 33 years. As operational costs have skyrocketed, many private clinics are struggling financially. Dr. Kalwinder highlighted that a 2017 MMA study found that 30% of clinics operate at a loss, 30% barely break even, 30% survive but do not grow, and only 10% are financially stable.
The MMA also noted that increased regulatory demands, such as the requirement to display drug prices, are putting additional strain on GPs. Health Minister Dzulkefly announced that starting in 2025, it will be mandatory for private healthcare facilities to display medication prices to prevent arbitrary price hikes.
Despite the concerns of medical practitioners, some experts warn that fee increases could exacerbate the burden on patients, particularly those from lower-income backgrounds. Dr. Lim Chee Han, a senior researcher at the non-profit Third World Network, argued that raising consultation fees to RM50 could force many patients to seek care at overburdened government clinics.
“Most patients cannot afford consultation fees of RM50, which would exclude the cost of medication,” Dr. Lim said. “This will definitely push many to government clinics.”
Malaysia has 1,097 government clinics, and the public healthcare system is already under strain. Dr. Lim further criticized the practice of marking up medication prices in GP clinics, which sometimes exceeds the cost charged by pharmacies.
In response to these concerns, Dr. Lim suggested that the government should adjust the scheduled fee range but not to the extent proposed by MMA. He also called for the implementation of a price regulation mechanism to control the mark-up on medical products.
One GP clinic owner in Bukit Damansara, who currently charges RM25 to RM30 for consultations, agreed that fees needed to rise, especially given the increasing costs of operating a clinic in Kuala Lumpur. However, the doctor, who requested anonymity due to concerns about backlash, stressed that while healthcare must remain accessible, GPs are running businesses and need to account for rising operational costs.
“Our consultation fees have not risen in line with inflation over the past 20 years,” the GP said. “There should be good healthcare for all, but we GPs are, for better or worse, a business entity.”
The ongoing debate over healthcare costs in Malaysia reflects a broader tension between the need for affordable care and the financial sustainability of healthcare providers. As costs continue to rise, both patients and medical practitioners will need to navigate a delicate balance to ensure that access to healthcare remains both sustainable and equitable.
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