THE intrusion of foreign entities into primary care in Malaysia is putting a well-run system at risk.
Malaysia has a primary care system that is very unique to the country, one that means ordinary Malaysians have access to a variety of private general practitioners (GPs) in almost every neighbourhood, who provide a range of medical services at affordable prices.
This system, crafted to benefit citizens, is now under threat due to foreign entities buying up primary care clinics and putting independent solo GPs out of business, says former Federation of Private Medical Practitioners' Associations Malaysia (FPMPAM) president Dr Steven Chow.
This could ultimately end up destroying the "crown jewels" of primary care in the country, he adds, especially as these foreign entities are only out to make profit. Patient care is not their first priority.
"Ours is a social system. That's why primary care in Malaysia is affordable, accessible, universal, virtually 24 hours a day and it's your choice of doctor and location."
For about RM60, one can see a doctor, get treated and be prescribed medicines.
"Where else in the world can you get this at that price?" questions Dr Chow.
However, this may soon change. Foreign entities are not allowed to buy into primary care, but in the last five years, things have been slowly changing, points out Dr Chow.
The impact will be felt when ordinary Malaysians, especially the poor and uninsured, can no longer afford to step into a GP clinic and be treated for simple ailments like coughs and colds, he adds.
"Don't disrupt or deform a well-run system. If you want to reform it by all means go ahead, but don't mess it up. Then, we are all finished."
Currently, there are around 7,000 to 8,000 private GPs in the country, operating either solo or as small groups, says FPMPAM president Dr Shanmuganathan T.V. Ganeson.
They serve an estimated 500,000 patients daily through their respective facilities, so if these clinics were to shut down due to competition from foreign-owned primary care practices, the impact would be huge.
Patients would most likely turn to public hospitals or Klinik Kesihatan for minor ailments, which in turn would overwhelm our already overcrowded public health facilities.
"When we met Health Ministry representatives over the years, we were assured that there would be no foreign equity allowed in primary care, but this has now changed," says Dr Shamnuganathan.
"How they operate, who is behind them, we don't know," he adds, voicing concern over the impact of primary care in the country falling into foreign hands.
GPs are already facing many challenges in running their clinics, including escalating operating costs, the need to comply with multiple Health Ministry requirements and doctor's consultation fees which have remained stagnant since 2006 (between RM15 and RM35).
Now, these added challenges caused by foreign entities encroaching into primary care will drive many out of business, he says.
"We need to protect and preserve the GP system because it plays a vital role in healthcare in the country."
General practitioner and FPMPAM honorary secretary Dr Pearl Leong Yuet Mae points out that it would be impossible for these foreign companies (from countries like Japan or Germany) to do what they're doing in Malaysia in developed countries.
It would be too expensive for them to pull off a similar business model in countries like Australia or the United States, for example. They are targeting Malaysia because it's cost effective, she says.
"Our GP system is so good that it is attracting these foreign equities to buy into it. Once they get a monopoly, they will jack up prices when in fact, they are not supposed to come into the system at all."
Ultimately, patients will lose their rights to go to the clinic of their choice or see the doctor of their choice and crucially, that personal doctor patient-relationship and continuity of care will be lost.
Once these foreign companies take over primary care, patients will be "customers", not individuals in need of care, says Dr Leong.
"Patients get care. Customers only get value for money. There's a huge difference."
These companies are profit-driven, adds Dr Leong and furthermore, every cent they earn goes back to their own countries.
Malaysia has one of the cheapest health systems in the world and we kept it that way for our citizens, she explains.
This is now under threat and it has to be addressed to ensure Malaysians can continue to have access to affordable healthcare.
*The New Straits Times has reached out to the office of the Health Director-General for feedback on this issue.
Stay healthy with supplements using this Shopee promo code