COMMENT | The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) calls for the regulation of third-party administrators (TPA) to curb unethical practices such as fee-splitting and to protect the healthcare system against commercialism.

As the issue affects healthcare delivery for the population, we call on MPs to address the matter in the upcoming parliamentary session.

TPAs are privately owned managed care organisations, hired by companies to manage their employee health benefits.

These intermediaries in private healthcare earn from providing managed care services to employers and from charges to private general practitioner (GP) clinics listed as panel clinics.

The majority of private GPs rely on TPAs for the network of clientele (companies) they provide and administrative services managing the various employers (companies).

Private GPs will not be able to sustain their practice by solely relying on out-of-pocket paying patients. As much as 50 percent of private clinic patients come under the category of managed care.