Rising Medical Costs

Getting medical treatment in Malaysia can be tough, especially if you're in a tough financial position. Public healthcare is generally cheap, but the long wait may make it tough if you're in need of urgent care. This is because there are just too many people and too few staff for the public healthcare to cope.

And if you decide to go with private healthcare, the exorbitant prices will definitely push you or your family into debt if you're not financially ready for it. Now the amendment to the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 means that medical fees have now been further increased and while this is good news for doctors who haven't seen an increase in the past 12 years, to the public, the high cost of healthcare looms over them even more.

Rising Costs

A woman shared her story to The Star Newspaper, where she shared how her family had to pay almost RM60,000 in medical expenses for their 87-year-old mother who was hospitalised in a private hospital for 35 days. Their mother was in the Critical Care Unit for a week, was moved to a single-bed room and did not have any surgery, yet the bill was insanely high and details onhow they were charged were vague. It got worse when she was told they were charged RM85 for any doctor who came to visit their mother even when it was supposed to be a routine check-up. This also included a nutritionist which the woman found unnecessary as her mother didn’t really need one. Even a nurse’s visit would be charged, especially if their mother rang the nurse’s bell after 9.30pm.

And therein lies the problem with many private healthcare institutions. The lack of clarity on how they charge their patients and the high costs for a lot of their services has caused many patients and their families to struggle even more after getting the medical care they need. There are even cases where those in need of treatment opt out instead as they do not wish to burden their families even further with the costs and even debt they may fall into. And this almost always leads to an early death.

With the new increase in place, consumers will be seeing their bills rise even more. Consultation fees at private hospitals are up by 200%, with the usual RM10-RM35 now up to RM30-RM125. A visit to a specialist will now cost anywhere between RM80-RM235, previously it ranged between RM60-RM180. A medical examination now would cost RM45-RM230. If a pregnant woman requires caesarean section, she will be charged RM2,719 now, an increase from RM2,365 before. A lot of these increases range between 14% to up to 33.3%

Together with these new costs, the public will continue to face the usual high charges that comes with hospitalisation especially in the private sectors. And there is little we can do as the debate on private healthcare and their function as a business continues, with no end in sight.

The woe of an average Malaysian

There is little respite for those who are in need of or will need medical assistance. Insurance premiums will be increased due to the new medical policies, and some even predict that employers may cut down on medical benefits as well. Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam insists that the medical fee hike is meant to protect the people and that consumers could still dictate the fees in the private medical industry by choosing practitioners with lower charges. Other doctors find the price hike too little, especially since it had been 12 years since the last hike despite the charges further burdening the average Malaysian.

While doctors and medical practitioners assured the public that the price hike is for the best, its a painful pill to swallow for many Malaysians which no medication can cure. As the cost of living continues to soar, it appears that even the cost of staying alive shows little mercy during these tough times.

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