Foul!

As published in Malay Mail By Haresh Deol haresh@mmail.com.my KUALA LUMPUR — As the debate for separation of the roles of doctors and pharmacists lingers, general practitioners (GPs) are racing to safeguard their interests in the wake of impending losses and additional costs imposed on them. More than 50 doctors will gather in a closed-door meeting in Kuantan tomorrow to discuss the implications of: • Separating roles of doctors and pharmacies; • Implementation of the goods and services (GST) tax; • Upgrading equipment involved in treating foreign workers; • Growing number of clinics folding up; • Over 4,000 private doctors who have quit in 2013 alone, mostly due to losses. The disgruntled doctors insist these factors will impact their practice come April 1, leaving them little choice but to charge their patients more. They cited rising cost of living and “bullying tactics” adopted by third party administrators as among the reasons for closure of more than 500 cli...

UPDATE May 18, 2014: The MC-selling clinic was raided, as published in the Sunday Mail today. The Selangor Health Department sprung into action yesterday as they raided a clinic in Taman Selayang Jaya following Malay Mail’s expose over the sales of sick leave chits (MC) on Saturday.   The raid also took a twist as the man who had sold the MCs to both our reporters turned out to be the doctor running Klinik Rakyat.   The department’s private medical practice control unit confiscated several exercise books which is believed to have details of those who had bought the MCs and stacks of sick leave chits from the clinic before lodging a police report at the Selayang police station.    Unit director Dr Faizal Mat Arifin, who led the raiding team, said the doctor who operated the clinic, Dr Saidul Islam, had abused his authority in issuing MCs.   “It is a serious case as it breaches the Medical Act. We have interroga...

You sit in front of the doctor. With a sympathetic look, much like a puppy starving for attention, you hope the doctor comforts you. Without eye contact, the doctor asks what you are suffering from.   You reply you have the package — flu, cough and a slight fever.   The doctor finally looks up, scribbles something and asks: “Is two days MC enough?”   You walk out of the consultation room — having spent exactly four minutes and 32 seconds with the doctor. You listen to unqualified people tell you about drugs which they themselves are clueless about, pay the sum due and head home.   Typical isn’t it? Read more in Haresh Says today.