KUALA LUMPUR: The increasing cost of healthcare and matters related to the ongoing pandemic were among issues the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) brought up with Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin during a meeting today.
The virtual meeting was to introduce the MMA's new executive council.
Newly-elected MMA president Dr Koh Kar Chai said the association discussed the way forward on various issues in the healthcare system.
He said MMA's main concerns were issues affecting young doctors, the pandemic, increasing healthcare costs, contract system for doctors, pay grades, on-call payments as well as the freeze of annual leave.
These issue were conveyed to the minister during the session.
"During the meeting, MMA presented solutions to a number of issues affecting both public and private healthcare; namely the general practitioners' (GP) 7th fee schedule, Managed Care Organisations/Third Party Administrators and GP pandemic preparedness. These were among issues in private healthcare that were brought up," he said in a statement.
Dr Koh proposed that a Health Commission be set up to look into urgent matters such as human resources in public healthcare, infrastructure and procurement.
"MMA wishes to thank the Health Minister for taking the time to meet with us on the many issues affecting the delivery of healthcare in the country.
"The Health Minister agreed that there is a need for reforms in our healthcare system and we are pleased that he is already embarking on the process," Dr Koh said.
Recognising that healthcare reform is a priority, the association affirmed that it will work together with Khairy and the ministry towards reaching these goals.
Dr Koh said the meeting also discussed adopting collaborative approaches and the concept of shared responsibility between public and private healthcare in the healthcare management of the nation.
"In the meeting, the Health Minister acknowledged the important role of GPs in pandemic preparedness going forward as Malaysia transitions into the endemic phase."
He also took note of the long standing issues GPs encounter with the Managed Care Organisations and the need to urgently resolve the matter, Dr Koh said.
