Kuala lumpur: The Ministry of Health (MOH) is committed to ensuring the sustainability of private clinic operations through outsourcing arrangements to enable them to remain competitive in the market. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad emphasized the importance of these measures in maintaining a robust healthcare ecosystem while protecting the welfare of private medical practitioners.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dr Dzulkefly addressed the issue of private general practitioner (GP) clinic closures, particularly highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic, during a session in the Dewan Rakyat. He stressed the need for private clinics to continue thriving and filling gaps within the healthcare system. This came in response to a question from Dr Halimah Ali (PN-Kapar) regarding the challenges faced by the private primary healthcare sector.
Dr Halimah pointed out that a significant number of private medical clinics have closed since 2013, largely due to a decrease in house officer intake. In response, Dr Dzulkefly noted that the government has implemented measures to support these clinics, including increasing the minimum consultation fee for private practitioners to RM80 from the previous RM10.
Highlighting the vital role of private GPs, Dr Dzulkefly described them as the backbone of Malaysia's primary healthcare system, which is essential for the country's overall healthcare infrastructure. He stated that the network consists of 2,916 MOH health clinics and 10,208 private GP clinics, underscoring their importance as a frontline defense in healthcare services.
Dr Dzulkefly further explained the need for structured collaboration between public and private healthcare sectors to manage the healthcare burden on government hospitals, especially with the rising incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). He mentioned that the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) includes strategies for managing NCDs through partnerships between private clinics and MOH health clinics.
In addressing Dr Halimah's inquiry about strengthening the primary healthcare model, Dr Dzulkefly acknowledged the necessity for closer integration between government and private clinics. This approach aims to manage NCDs effectively and alleviate hospital congestion, drawing parallels to successful systems in the United Kingdom and Taiwan.