General practitioner (GP) clinics are up in arms over the announcement that the minimal wage of Rm1500 monthly shall be enforced on companies with a minimal of 5 workers members.
GP clinics, particularly standalone clinics, are basically low-income incomes companies, with their session charges being capped below the Private Healthcare and Facilities Act.
Their total costs are additionally managed by third get together directors with no avenue for compensation for any enhance in working expenditure brought on by the imposition of minimal wages.
Private clinics aren’t like companies in different sectors, the place worth will increase could be handed on to the shoppers. The well being care observe is closely regulated.
Five workers members may appear to be rather a lot, however in actuality, that’s the minimal variety of workers members wanted by many clinics to proceed working at prolonged hours to keep up their overhead expenditure, and to derive an affordable earnings for the practitioner.
Most clinic assistants employed are untrained employees, and never educated nurses.
The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) hopes that an engagement could be accomplished with related well being care stakeholders on the implication of the minimal wages act on GP clinics.
A minimal wage will permit for a better high quality of dwelling, however the provision of high quality major well being care at reasonably priced charges for the general public can also be important to the upkeep of the well being of our nation.
Dr Koh Kar Chai is president of the Malaysian Medical Association.
- This is the private opinion of the author or publication and doesn’t essentially characterize the views of CodeBlue.
