KUALA LUMPUR – Health Ministry (MOH) is reviewing several key amendments to the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 (Act 586) as part of a push to tighten oversight on excessive charges in private hospitals — an issue increasingly troubling consumers.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni stressed that the reforms can no longer be delayed, noting that rising medical inflation also involves the roles of the Finance Ministry, Bank Negara Malaysia and the insurance sector.
“We are indeed studying several suitable amendments to expand regulatory control under Act 586 … beyond consultation fees, we want to widen oversight to include other charges so that healthcare inflation can be contained,” he said during a Dewan Negara question‑and‑answer session today.
He was responding to Senator R. A. Lingeswaran, who asked what immediate steps the government would take to amend the Act to regulate non‑professional charges that often burden patients.
Replying to a supplementary question from Senator S. Vell Paari, Lukanisman explained that Act 586 currently covers only consultation fees and procedural charges, while other costs — such as medication prices and medical equipment — fall outside MOH’s control.
He revealed that MOH received 817 complaints last year, with 188 compounds issued for various offences, including consultation fee complaints (70), procedural charges (48), medication charges (25) and other violations under the ministry’s regulatory framework.
Lukanisman also reminded the public that anyone charged excessive consultation fees may lodge a complaint through the MOH website or contact the Private Medical Practice Control Section (CKAPS).
He emphasised that private healthcare facilities that fail to comply with the fee schedule under Act 586 may face strict enforcement action, including warning letters or compounds under Subsection 106(4).
“If convicted, the maximum fine is RM5,000 for sole proprietors and RM15,000 for organisations, corporations, partnerships or associations,” he said, as reported by Bernama.
“A show‑cause notice for licence cancellation may also be issued in appropriate cases,” he added. – 8 December 2025