Private hospital rates set by association
KOTA KINABALU:
The rates imposed on patients by private hospitals in Malaysia is in accordance to the guideline set by the Malaysia Medical Association (MMA). Rafflesia Medical Centre (RMC) executive chairman Dr Roland Chia said there is a guideline set by MMA on the rates and it should not be raised unnecessarily by private hospital operators. “I do not know if there are unregistered private hospitals or non-MMA members who have increased their rate more than that set by the association. “As far as I know, the rates are set by MMA and even stipulated in the association’s constitution,” he said, adding that the rates imposed on RMC patients are based on the MMA’s specification. He believes that the rates imposed by RMC are affordable, adding that to date, they have yet to receive any complaints from their patients. Chia said he was shocked to read Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek’s statement that several private hospitals have increased their rates, an act which was seen as wanting to gain more profit. “This is really shocking. I have yet to come across such cases here in Sabah, may be it is just happening in Peninsular Malaysia,” said Chia. Chua in his statement on Monday said that the matter had been brought to the Cabinet’s attention. However, he expressed that the issue is not easy to be handled as it refers to a lot of matters. “The rate imposed by private doctors kept increasing probably due to the hike of prices of medicine, information technology and commercialisation of medicine usage,” he explained. He added that the medical practice today was not just restricted to curing the sick only but also is seen as a business that would bring in bigger returns to shareholders.
KOTA KINABALU:
The rates imposed on patients by private hospitals in Malaysia is in accordance to the guideline set by the Malaysia Medical Association (MMA). Rafflesia Medical Centre (RMC) executive chairman Dr Roland Chia said there is a guideline set by MMA on the rates and it should not be raised unnecessarily by private hospital operators. “I do not know if there are unregistered private hospitals or non-MMA members who have increased their rate more than that set by the association. “As far as I know, the rates are set by MMA and even stipulated in the association’s constitution,” he said, adding that the rates imposed on RMC patients are based on the MMA’s specification. He believes that the rates imposed by RMC are affordable, adding that to date, they have yet to receive any complaints from their patients. Chia said he was shocked to read Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek’s statement that several private hospitals have increased their rates, an act which was seen as wanting to gain more profit. “This is really shocking. I have yet to come across such cases here in Sabah, may be it is just happening in Peninsular Malaysia,” said Chia. Chua in his statement on Monday said that the matter had been brought to the Cabinet’s attention. However, he expressed that the issue is not easy to be handled as it refers to a lot of matters. “The rate imposed by private doctors kept increasing probably due to the hike of prices of medicine, information technology and commercialisation of medicine usage,” he explained. He added that the medical practice today was not just restricted to curing the sick only but also is seen as a business that would bring in bigger returns to shareholders.
