Putrajaya weighs tougher rules to curb rising fees in private healthcare
KUALA LUMPUR:
The health ministry is examining several amendments to the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 (Act 586) to broaden regulatory authority, with a focus on curbing overcharging in private hospitals.
Deputy Health Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni emphasized that addressing medical cost inflation and healthcare utilization involves other ministries and sectors, including the finance ministry, Bank Negara Malaysia, and the insurance industry.
“We are assessing suitable amendments to extend Act 586’s reach. In addition to fee regulation for consultations, we intend to cover other charges as well to rein in healthcare inflation,” he told the Dewan Negara today.
He spoke in response to Senator Dr RA Lingeshwaran’s question about government moves to amend Act 586 to immediately regulate non-professional charges.
Earlier, in reply to Senator S Vell Paari about protections against overcharging by private hospitals, Lukanisman noted that Act 586 currently governs only consultation and procedural fees, not the costs of medicines or medical equipment.
The health ministry reported receiving 817 complaints last year and issued fines related to 188 charges. These included consultation fees (70 cases), procedural charges (48), and medicine costs (25), with the remaining cases falling under other regulatory provisions.
The public can file complaints about overcharged consultation fees via the health ministry’s website or through the private medical practice control division.
Facilities that fail to comply with the Act 586 fee schedule may face actions such as warning letters or fines under subsection 106(4).
If convicted, the maximum fines are RM5,000 for a sole proprietor and RM15,000 for organizations, including corporations, partnerships, or associations. In appropriate cases, a show-cause notice for licence cancellation may also be issued.
