Patients Skipping GPs For Private Hospitals Drive Up Medical Costs: APHM

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 — Patients going directly to private hospitals for conditions that general practitioners (GPs) could manage are contributing to rising medical costs, the Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM) says.

APHM honorary secretary Anwar Anis said a World Bank report commissioned by the government found that increased health care utilisation accounted for more than 70 per cent of rising medical insurance and takaful claims costs, compared with higher prices for the same medical services.

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