KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 3 — The Academy of Medicine of Malaysia (AMM) has raised concern over a directive by a third-party administrator (TPA) requiring doctors to seek prior approval before using general anaesthesia in daycare surgeries.

The group said the move intrudes on the clinical autonomy of surgeons and anaesthesiologists by placing cost-saving measures above patient safety.

“The choice of anaesthesia is a complex decision made by qualified professionals after assessing the patient’s health, procedure and preferences, and cannot be outsourced to a non-clinical party,” AMM said in a statement today.

It warned that such directives risk eroding the doctor-patient relationship and could expose medical professionals to ethical and legal pitfalls if adverse outcomes occur.

AMM added that while sustainable healthcare financing is important, financial motives must never override medical judgement, stressing that policies should uphold patient welfare above all else.