KUALA LUMPUR – For the first time ever, Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will include a public hearing session as part of its inquiry into forming regulatory mechanisms for the private healthcare sector.
PKR’s Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin said that the committee is committed to engaging a wider audience and all stakeholders – including the rakyat – for its proceedings into the matter, which is aimed at ensuring that private healthcare institutes are subject to some form of regulation.
Noting that additional details on the public hearing will be determined following further discussions within the committee, Sim, who is also a committee member, said that the public will be given a chance to voice their concerns on the issue.
“It’s currently like the Wild Wild West – (since) no one has the authority to regulate them (private hospitals), they can do anything they want and no one can control or investigate them. This is something which has to be rectified.
“As MPs, we can push for a regulatory agenda (through) the PAC, which will be fair and summon stakeholders from different groups, such as private healthcare representatives, insurance companies and public associations, to listen to their testimony,” Sim said.
Referencing PAC chairman Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin’s previous announcement, he assured that the PAC will commence proceedings relating to the topic once Parliament reconvenes from February 3 to March 6.
The government backbencher said this when speaking to reporters today at the sidelines of a forum in Universiti Malaya (UM) titled “Healthcare for Whom?: The Implications of Increasing Hospital Charges on the National Healthcare System”.
Besides Sim, other panellists included public health medicine specialist Dr Tarani Loganathan, who is also an associate professor with UM’s Social and Preventive Medicine, Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy CEO Azrul Mohd Khalid and former Thomson Hospital Kota Damansara CEO Wan Nadiah Wan Abdullah Yaakob.
Tharani was slotted in as a last-minute replacement after president of the Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia, Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh, failed to show up for the event at the eleventh hour.
The over three-hour long session was moderated by Manvir Victor, patient advocate and co-founder of healthcare portal Vital Signs Asia.
Meanwhile, commenting on UM Medical Centre’s (UMMC) decision to hike its consultation, admission and service charges effective January 1, Sim said that the higher fees proves that there is a need to look into whether private hospitals are unfairly profiteering from charges imposed on patients.
“We’re not trying to blame any party as all quarters have a role to play in our healthcare ecosystem, including private hospitals which bring benefits to the country, but they cannot be allowed to make decisions based on their own profits.
“We can accept (private healthcare institutions) making a profit, but not excessive profiteering. Moving forward, we want a fairer system,” he added.
Earlier today, it was reported that UMMC has announced sharp rises in its charges, which now cost up to three times more, with the medical centre stating that the increase is due to the rising costs of medical supplies and equipment.
Noting that the fees were last revised in 2019, UMMC said that while government assistance remains its main source of funding, it is responsible for generating its own income.
UMMC’s general clinic consultation fees has gone up to RM15 from RM5, while follow-up specialist consultation fees increased from RM15 to RM50. Specialist consultation fees went up to RM80 from RM30 and ward admission in a single adult room went up from RM120 to RM300.
Other new fees are RM270 for paediatric ward admission, RM500 for emergency ward admission for adults, RM650 for emergency ward admission for children and RM700 for delivery room admission.
Advance payments for paediatric and ophthalmology services now cost RM1,500 for Malaysians, while surgical and orthopaedic services will require an advance payment of RM2,500.
The advance payment for intensive care wards has been set at RM5,000. – January 3, 2025