Page 20 - MEDICAL AND HEALTH INSURANCE

MEDICAL AND HEALTH INSURANCE

They are required by law to be licensed as regulated under the Private

Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 (Act 586, Laws of Malaysia).

1.5 HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS

Healthcare professionals are highly skilled workers in their professions that
usually require extensive knowledge, including university-level study,

leading to the award of a first degree or higher qualification.

They often work in hospitals, healthcare centres and other service delivery

points, but also in academic training, research, and administration.
Healthcare professionals are also being regulated. They are required to be

registered formally with the regulators and must apply for a practising

licence to practising licence to practise. With such requirements, the

Ministry will ensure that only competent professionals with adequate and

recognised qualifications get into the healthcare system and provide the
licensed professionals exclusive rights to practise. This will also ensure that

the safety and rights of patients are duly protected.

1.5.1 GENERAL PRACTITIONERS

Primary care providers are general practitioners who work either with the

public sector or private sector. In the public sector, they practise in the

outpatient department of the government hospitals. In the private sector

they have their own clinics, and a majority are in the urban areas that
provide easy care for common ailments and simple trauma/injury

management for a fee for service.

A general practitioner is a medical doctor who is responsible for diagnosing

and treating a variety of injuries and diseases that fall under the 'general

practice' category. General practitioners diagnose patients by examining
them and performing tests using medical equipment and instruments.

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