Five major medical groups on Thursday supported the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s decision on Monday to repeal government-imposed limits on medical institutions’ registration fees, and urged etablishments to maintain self-discipline.
The groups’ support came following public concern that seeing doctors would be more expensive if medical institutions jointly raise registration fees.
Removing the limits would encourage the dynamic development of the medical industry and enhance competitiveness by allowing the market to determine prices, the Taiwan Medical Association said.
Photo: Tsai Shu-yuan, Taipei Times
Reference rates for registration fees were not adjusted for inflation, it said.
The Taiwan Hospital Association, the Taiwan Nongovernmental Hospitals and Clinics Association and the Taiwan College of Healthcare Executive in a joint statement said that allowing hospitals and clinics to adjust registration fees was necessary to allow them to improve operations, reduce costs and enhance professionalism.
Medical institutes should be self-disciplined, raise fees only if necessary, follow regulations and clearly inform patients of their charges, they said.
The Taiwan Community Hospital Association also applauded the ministry for updating what it called outdated regulations, reminding members not to take more than necessary and encouraging patients to visit community hospitals.
Separately, the Consumers’ Foundation urged the Ministry of Health and Welfare to review inspection procedures to ensure that the public’s right to medical treatment is undamaged.
Taiwan Healthcare Reform Foundation secretary-general Lin Ya-hui (林雅惠) said the foundation opposed the outright removal of registration fee ceilings.
Market-determined prices would result in price wars, and clinics and hospitals catering to those who can afford it, Lin Ya-hui said.
National Federation of Labor president Lin En-hao (林恩豪) said that after this decision, the health minister should step down.
Consumers’ Foundation chairman Wu Jung-ta (吳榮達) said the ministry should base registration fee rates on those announced on June 21, 2010, instead of removing them.
National Federation of Teachers’ Unions president Hou Chun-liang (侯俊良) said the Public Assistance Act (社會救助法) was outdated and the removal of imposed ceilings on registration fees could lead to medical care based on social class.
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