Medical Bills Should Make Sense, Says CAP – Consumers Association Penang

Private healthcare practitioners must communicate fee structures upfront, says Consumers’ Association of Penang president Mohideen Abdul Kader. He stressed the importance of transparency. “Transparent pricing allows patients to make informed decisions,” he said.

This comes after the Health Ministry said it does not regulate facilities fees imposed by private healthcare facilities. In a parliamentary written reply on 4 March 2025, the ministry said the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 only regulates professional fees, which are consultation fees.

“Facilities fees, which include nurses’ services, medical device charges, consumables (needle, syringe, gauze and others), and lab test charges, are not regulated by MOH,” it added.

Mohideen urged transparency in the billing process and for medical jargon to be avoided, noting that the patient may not know what they are being charged for.

He also proposed regulating the scale of medical tourism, adding how the influx of patients from neighbouring countries has expanded the market, potentially driving up healthcare costs.

“By implementing policies that ensure a portion of the revenue from medical tourism is reinvested into the public healthcare system, the government can help maintain affordable care for locals,” he said.

~ from a report in The Star (5 March 2025)