WORDS DR HARDIP SINGH GENDEH
 FEATURED EXPERTDR HARDIP SINGH GENDEH Lecturer and Specialist Ear, Nose & Throat Surgeon Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery Faculty of Medicine Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia |
The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) hosted a pivotal forum titled Fee Schedule: Reforming Doctors’ Remunerations for a Sustainable Healthcare as part of the National MMA Convention & Scientific Congress 2024 and the 64th MMA Annual General Meeting.
The event took place on Saturday, 7 September 2024, in Kuching, Sarawak.
KEY INSIGHTS FROM INDUSTRIAL LEADERS
The forum provided valuable insights into the future direction of the Fee Schedule, focusing on both Schedule 7 and 13.
It saw notable contributions from various stakeholders in the healthcare industry, associations, the Ministry of Health (MOH), and medical professionals. The discussion was moderated by Associate Professor Sanjiv Rampal from IMU University and yours truly from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).
Panelists included:
- Dato’ Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira, representing the MMA
- Dr Vasu Pillai, also representing the MMA
- Dr Mohamed Iqbal Hamzah from the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH)
- Datuk Dr Thirunavukarasu Rajoo, representing general practitioners
- Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh, representing the Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia (APHM)
- Dr Gunalan Palari, specialist representative
- Dr Liew Shan Fap, representing the Society of Private Medical Practitioners Sarawak
CHALLENGES AND PROPOSALS FOR FEE SCHEDULE REFORM
During the forum, Dr Mohamed Iqbal Hamzah, Head of the Medical Practice Division at the Ministry of Health, shared key issues regarding the current Doctors’ Fee Schedule.
The discussion covered the history of fee schedules for private specialists and general practitioners, their benefits and drawbacks, and the need for timely revisions to reflect the changing healthcare landscape.
MMA’S PROPOSALS FOR HARMONIZATION AND TIMELY REVIEWS
The MMA presented two critical recommendations:
- The harmonization of fee schedules across practices
- The implementation of a regular, timely review process
Both recommendations are raised to ensure that doctors’ remunerations are fair and up to date.
AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT RAISES OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUTURE DISCUSSIONS
The interactive forum sparked lively engagement, with questions posed both in person and online.
Bolstered by this response, the MMA expressed its eagerness for more discussions and engagements on this crucial topic in the future.
| If you missed the forum, catch up by watching the full session here (link opens in a new tab). |