Doctors have to be insured under new Medical Act
Aug 30th, 2007 by 1takaful
Source: The Star, 29th August 2007
All private sector doctors will have to be covered by insurance once amendments are made to the Medical Act 1971.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said yesterday that doctors in private practice or those working in private hospitals did not need to have indemnity insurance now, adding that only about half of them were insured.
“With the Medical Act amended and hopefully enforced by next year, it will be compulsory for private doctors to be insured,” he told reporters after meeting with Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM) members.
“This is for the good of the patients. If they (doctors) are sued and the patient wins, they can be paid through insurance companies. We want them to have indemnity insurance when they practise.”
Doctors in public service are covered by the ministry.
Dr Chua said there might be an issue if the patient won a case but could not be paid because the doctor had no insurance.
Asked if there were many cases where the doctors failed to pay up, he said doctors were not required to report to the ministry.
“I am sure there are. If the amount is too big, the doctor just has to declare himself a bankrupt,” he said.