KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 — Medical practitioners are crying foul over the failure of a company responsible for processing claims in paying them monies owed, amounting to more than RM1 million.

Doctors said they had not received their payments from third party administrator (TPA) Medijaring Sdn Bhd since 2007.

Checks by Malay Mail revealed a doctor based in Langkawi is owed a staggering RM78,730 while another Nilai-based doctor has yet to receive RM43,795. Those affected have lodged complaints with the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) and Medical Practitioners Coalition Association Of Malaysia (MPCAM) while others have initiated legal action.

MMA claims millions were still being owed to hospitals as well but its main priority was to “aid individual doctors who face financial losses”.

Based on numerous reports lodged, MMA and MPCAM are in the midst of compiling the number of doctors affected and the total sum involved.

Most doctors said they tried to contact Medijaring, and Etiqa Insurance & Takaful ― who they claimed had appointed Medijaring ― to seek answers but their efforts proved futile.

Sitiawan-based Dr Sundrasan Muthoo said he was still waiting for his payment amounting to RM15,657 for his services in 2011 and 2012.

“I do not know who to turn to. I have tried speaking to Medijaring and Etiqa only to be pushed around. Now I can’t seem to get anyone. Everyone seems to have washed their hands off, leaving me in the lurch,” said Dr Sundrasan, 49.

He said the company paid promptly in the early days but he encountered late payments since 2010. Dr Sundrasan said this was the second time he had not received payment from a TPA.

“There was a company in the past that also went bust. They owed me some RM7,000 then. Now I’m being victimised again. I’m just asking for what is rightfully mine.”

He said doctors would generally tend to collaborate with a TPA as it was a means to obtain a steady income.

“It’s not easy relying on walk-ins alone. Contrary to popular believe, doctors don’t make a lot of money these days. We are forced to work with TPAs but it is turning out to be a risky affair.”

Another doctor based in Bandar Baru Sri Petaling, who requested anonymity, also wondered if he would be getting the amount owed to him.

“I really don’t know what to do and to initiate legal action could only cost me more time and money. I have forwarded my complaints to MPCAM and MMA and I hope they will be able to help me out,” said the 43-year-old doctor.

MPCAM president Dr Jim Loi said despite repeated meetings between the parties involved, no solution had been provided for the doctors.

“We initiated a boycott against Medijaring and Etiqa two years ago as we grew tired of them constantly pointing fingers at each other. The doctors do not want to hear excuses but just want to know when they will receive their payments,” said Dr Loi.

“Hopefully, the concerned parties will acknowledge the problem and find a solution.”

MMA president Datuk Dr N.K.S. Tharmaseelan, meanwhile, said the association would resort to legal action if the matter remained unresolved.

In a strongly worded statement, Dr Tharmaseelan said: “The MMA is disappointed and dismayed that Etiqa, a huge financial corporation, failed to honour its debts, amounting to millions, to thousands of primary care doctors.

“They (Etiqa) appointed Medijaring as the MCO (managed care organisation) to deal with doctors. Doctors were instructed to send all bills for medical examination and treatment to Medijaring and they stood as guarantors.

“Now they are absolving themselves of any liability or responsibility and have even refused to see the doctors to resolve the matter.”

He said financial institutions generally filed civil suits against guarantors when a loan was not serviced and questioned why the same principle was not applicable to Etiqa.

“MMA will have to file a class action civil suit if all else fails to recover the debts. We hope they will show some urgency in resolving this matter which has been dragging for years.

Etiqa, when contacted on March 26, said it would issue a response in due course. No statement was made available until press time. 

The Health Ministry, meanwhile, requested details over the issue.