KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has welcomed the record RM46.5 billion allocation for healthcare under Budget 2026 but expressed disappointment over the government’s decision to maintain the minimum general practitioner (GP) consultation fee at RM10 — unchanged since 1992.
MMA president Datuk Dr Thirunavukarasu Rajoo said the revision of GP fees after 17 years was “deeply disappointing” as the increase falls far short of the RM50 minimum the association has long called for.
“The decision to maintain the RM10 minimum fails to reflect the true value of GPs in delivering frontline care,” Dr Thirunavukarasu said in a statement today.
“Over 60% of patients come through TPAs (third-party administrators) and companies that pay below RM35. With over 10,000 clinics nationwide, this low floor risks worsening, undercutting and financial strain, rendering the model unsustainable.”
While acknowledging the government’s broader commitment to strengthening the healthcare system — including the creation of 4,500 permanent positions for contract doctors and higher on-call allowances — the MMA said more attention is needed on implementation details and long-term planning for other critical healthcare roles.
Dr Thirunavukarasu said allocations to upgrade hospitals, clinics, and digital capacity were encouraging but warned that “hardware alone is not enough” to ease system pressure without sufficient staffing.
“Without enough doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals, facility upgrades will not meaningfully reduce strain on the system,” he said.
The MMA also raised concerns over the proposed use of Employees Provident Fund (EPF) savings as an alternate healthcare financing option, warning that it could undermine Malaysians’ retirement security.
“The EPF is intended to safeguard retirement security, and diverting these funds may affect long-term financial wellbeing — which is closely tied to health outcomes,” he said, urging the government to assess the policy carefully to avoid unintended consequences for vulnerable groups.
The association supported the government’s move to raise excise duties on tobacco and alcohol to curb non-communicable diseases but reiterated its call for a total ban on vaping, citing its growing health impact on young Malaysians.
The MMA further cautioned the government against rushing into Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG) implementation under its planned public–private integration efforts, saying strong data, proper planning, and stakeholder engagement were critical to ensure success.
“We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the Health Ministry to ensure these budget initiatives deliver meaningful improvements in healthcare access, quality, and sustainability for the rakyat,” Dr Thirunavukarasu said.
Under Budget 2026, presented yesterday by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the government allocated RM1.2 billion for hospital and clinic maintenance, RM755 million to upgrade medical equipment, and RM140 million to outsource public hospital patients to private, military, and university hospitals.
The budget also includes a 40% increase in on-call allowances for medical and dental officers and new funding for the development of affordable basic health insurance products. — October 11, 2025