Kuala lumpur: The Ministry of Health (MOH) is reviewing several amendments to the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 (Act 586) to broaden its regulatory powers, particularly regarding overcharging at private hospitals.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni emphasized the importance of this move, citing the involvement of medical cost inflation and healthcare utilisation with the Ministry of Finance, Bank Negara Malaysia, and the insurance sector. "We are studying appropriate amendments to extend Act 586's scope of regulation. Besides consultation fees, we intend to cover several other charges as well to control healthcare inflation," he stated during the oral question-and-answer session in the Dewan Negara today.
Lukanisman was responding to an additional question from Senator Dr R A Lingeswaran about the government's steps to amend Act 586 to immediately regulate non-professional charges. Earlier, he addressed an additional question from Senator Datuk Seri S Vell Paari concerning protection against overcharging by private hospitals and explained that Act 586 currently only regulates consultation and procedural fees, excluding medicine or equipment costs.
He disclosed that the MOH received 817 complaints last year and issued fines related to 188 charges, comprising consultation fees (70), procedural charges (48), and medicine costs (25), with the remaining cases falling under the ministry's regulatory framework. Members of the public who are overcharged on consultation fees are encouraged to submit complaints via the MOH website or contact the Private Medical Practice Control Division (CKAPS).
Private facilities that fail to comply with the fee schedule under Act 586 risk facing action, including warning letters or fines under Subsection 106(4). If convicted, the maximum fine is RM5,000 for a sole proprietor and RM15,000 for organisations, corporations, partnerships, or associations. In certain cases, a show-cause notice for licence cancellation may also be issued.