Well, the advertisement is out. I wrote about this almost 2 months ago over here . Then I wrote again about the bleak future of GPs over here. Today I noticed an advert at Jabatan Kesihatan Wilayah Persekutuan website regarding the application for GPs to serve in Klinik 1Malaysia:
What was glaring is the fact that the service is needed from 6pm to 10pm only !! It basically means that a GP who works here is serving the people in the urban area during peak hours. The GPs is being paid RM80/hour by the government which total up to RM 320/day.
I have written before, that most GPs survive with “after office ” hour patients. With the extension of some Klinik Kesihatans to 10pm, GPs that were located near these KKs were affected. Now, with Klinik 1Malaysia having doctors till 10pm will only make the matter worst for the nearby GPs. I am sure the rest of Klinik 1Malaysia will follow soon.
The GP who takes up this offer on the other hand will be cursed by the rest of the GPs in the vicinity. It is a “catch 22” situation. The other interesting fact about this offer is the preference given to MMA members!! I got NO idea how this came about. Is MMA agreeing to this suggestion?
2 days ago, an interesting news appeared in Free Malaysia Today ( see below) . This news is not something new as I have mentioned it many times in this blog. In Malaysia, rumours will always end up becoming a reality. As I have written here, it is coming ……………..
PERMOHONAN
PERKHIDMATAN DOKTOR SWASTA LOCUM
DI KLINIK 1 MALAYSIA KERINCHI
Perkhidmatan ini adalah dikendalikan selepas waktu pejabat pada waktu berikut:-
Hari : Isnin-Jumaat
Masa : 6.00pm-10.00pm
Tawaran untuk menjalankan tugas locum di Klinik 1 Malaysia Kerinchi ini terbuka kepada
(1) Pengamal Perubatan swasta yang berdaftar dengan MMC.
(2) Keutamaan diberi kepada pengamal perubatan yang berdaftar dengan Persatuan Perubatan Malaysia (MMA).
Bayaran Perkhidmatan adalah sebanyak RM80 per jam
Pengamal perubatan yang berminat boleh mengemukakan permohonan dengan mengisi borang pendaftaran (Lampiran 1) yang lengkap beserta gambar serta dokumen sokongan seperti senarai semak dan hantarkan kepada Unit Pembangunan Kesihatan Keluarga, JKWPKL&P.
Pemohon yang berjaya akan dihubungi melalui telefon apabila kelulusan Ketua Pengarah Kesihatan (KPK) diperolehi.
Berikut adalah syarat-syarat yang perlu dipatuhi oleh pengamal perubatan yang menjalankan perkhidmatan doktor swasta locum:-
- Jika terdapat ketidakhadiran dengan sebab-sebab yang tidak munasabah setelah nama diletakkan didalam jadual, nama Pegawai
- Perubatan tersebut akan dibatalkan dari perkhidmatan ini.
- Jika atas sebab-sebab yang munasabah Pegawai Perubatan tidak dapat hadir,hendaklah mencari ganti sendiri dan pengganti itu hendaklah Pegawai Perubatan yang berdaftar untuk perkhidmatan ini.
- Sebarang pertanyaan sila hubungi : Ketua Penolong Pengarah kanan (Primer), Unit Pembangunan Kesihatan Keluarga, Dr Wan Ahmad Razman b Wan Abd Salim 0326940701 ext 104 atau email drwanahmad@wp.moh.gov.my
New plan has private GPs fearing the worst
| December 10, 2012
Malaysia’s new healthcare plans are going to inconvenience private medical practitioners.
PETALING JAYA: Sources have revealed that Malaysia is about to pass a law which would lead to a significant change in the private healthcare industry.
The legislation’s main provision involved the controversial removal of dispensing rights from doctors, thus awarding pharmacists the sole right to dispense medication.
At present, doctors were carrying out the duties of both professions by prescribing and dispensing medication and this was not the standard practice in most developed nations.
The Health Ministry, according to reliable sources, wants to adopt the same approach for private healthcare here.
However, one private doctor thinks that our current healthcare system does not permit such a change.
“They do not understand that what might work for other countries… might not work for us… given the situation of our private healthcare system,” he said.
He pointed out that the majority of general practitioners (GP) make most of their income from the sales of medication, although many would not admit.
“These developed nations have national bodies which pay private doctors extremely well but here doctors have to rely on the sale of the medication they dispense to make ends meet,” he said.
Another private GP from Mont Kiara, who also refused to be named, felt that such a move would only trigger higher consultation fees and was not all bad news for doctors.
“The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has a schedule of fees which stipulates that there is a minimum amount in consultation fees to be charged to patients… but many doctors do not practice this,” she said.
She was implying that when the law fell into place, doctors would be more than happy to charge patients the minimum RM35 consultation fees for minor ailments as they too would need to generate a steady income.
The MMA’s schedule of fees also states that for visits after 5pm, an additional 50% is to be charged, thus confirming the GP’s statement that doctors would be in for a hefty monetary windfall.
Due to the cloudy situation regarding the exact details of the law, all sources either declined to comment or be named as the issue was sensitive and involved many parties.
Pagalavan's Avatar 
Speechless…
Though this is worrying but I don’t think that’s easy to implement. Beside the resistance from GPs, the system cannot be changed overnight. It is not only the GPs will suffer but the whole network of pharmaceutical industries from the manufacturer to the sales agents. Also the backlash from the public who will definitely need to pay the increase cost of visiting a GP. This will take another 10-20 years at minimun to iron out all these issue. The only thing they can immediately do is to out source the pharmacy in public hospital to the cronies.
Yes, it is difficult but not impossible. It will probably take about 5-10 years. Pharmacist have already been told to open up branches in each district based on zoning. Smaller pharmacies are being told to merge with bigger pharmacies.
So, it is happening silently.
For MBBS, which are better choices IMU local/Manipal/PMC/ACMS/Taylor’s? If possible I want to have the Chance to work overseas.
My A-Level results should not qualify me for IMU-PMS/Monash (aab). Should I opt for retake?
Will I get better prospects if I do BSc instead of MBBS given the problems highlighted in your blog? That’s because I have passion in the Science and Medical field and will only choose between these 2 courses in university.
Is there any chance of transferring internally from BSc to MBBS in local universities? (UM/USM/UKM)
None of the degrees you mentioned above will allow you to work overseas. PMC is recognized in Ireland but chances of you getting a job in Ireland is very slim and almost impossible.
To do medicine you need atleast AAA, ABC or AAC for any university based on MMC guideline.
For local public university, the chances of changing from BSc to MBBS is very small.