KUALA LUMPUR, March 7 — Consumer groups are up in arms against the Health Ministry’s move to increase private medical fees by 14.4 per cent.

Health Minister Datuk Seri S. Subramaniam said the rise was half of the 30 per cent hike suggested by the Malaysian Medical Association.

Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations deputy president Muhammad Sha’ani Abdullah said the government should not allow over-profiting by private hospitals.

“Hospitals and private practitioners are already making money. The government should be more considerate,” Sha’ani said.

“It is a big deal if private medical institutions are allowed to raise medical fees. It is ridiculous if people have to sell their houses just to seek treatment.”

He said there should instead be a national healthcare scheme, similar to that of the Social Security Organisation (Socso).

While stressing the government must be serious in helping the people, he said patients should spend within their means and seek treatment at government hospitals or clinics if they did not have the means.

“If private clinics lowered their fees, more people would be able to seek treatment from them. This would also give government clinics a run for their money.”

Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia president Datuk Nadzim Johan said he did not see a good reason for private hospitals to raise their medical fees.

“The fees charged by private hospitals are already high. Some private hospitals charge RM50 for a box of tissue paper while a mere three-minute consultation with a specialist is about RM300.” 

Nadzim, however, said government hospitals tend to have better medical equipment than their private counterparts and had at times offered good services.