MMA warns illegal clinics in KL risk patient safety after raids uncover fake doctors and smuggled medicines
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has voiced deep concern following the recent discovery of illegal clinics operating in the capital, where foreign nationals posing as doctors were allegedly providing medical advice and dispensing controlled medicines without proper qualifications or registration.
In a statement, MMA president Datuk Dr Thirunavukarasu Rajoo described the situation as alarming and unacceptable, particularly as it involved activities taking place in Kuala Lumpur.
He warned that such unlawful practices pose serious risks to patient safety and raise pressing concerns about regulatory oversight.
“These unscrupulous practices endanger lives,” he said, noting that patients seeking treatment at such facilities risk misdiagnosis, inappropriate treatment, complications from unsafe procedures, and exposure to counterfeit or improperly dispensed medicines.
Medical practice in Malaysia is strictly regulated to safeguard public health. Under existing laws, only doctors registered with the Malaysian Medical Council and holding a valid Annual Practising Certificate are legally permitted to practise. The MMA stressed that these regulations are in place to ensure medical professionals meet rigorous standards of training, ethics and competency.
The association urged authorities to intensify surveillance and enforcement efforts to swiftly detect and shut down illegal healthcare operations. It said the recurrence of such clinics despite previous raids underscores the need for more robust and sustained enforcement measures.
Thirunavukarasu called for enforcement activities to be strategically strengthened, particularly in areas with a high concentration of migrant workers. Reports suggest vulnerable communities are often targeted by illegal operators who exploit barriers such as cost, language and limited awareness of the healthcare system.
“This is not about any particular group,” he emphasised. “It is about protecting individuals who may be taken advantage of due to circumstances beyond their control.”
The MMA reiterated that every person in Malaysia, regardless of nationality, deserves access to safe, ethical and lawful medical care. To effectively curb illegal practices, it called for firm inter-agency collaboration, regular inspections and decisive penalties to serve as a strong deterrent.
At the same time, the association urged the public to remain vigilant. Patients are advised to seek treatment only from registered medical practitioners and licensed healthcare facilities. They also have the right to verify a doctor’s credentials and should report any suspicious or unlicensed services to the authorities.
“Protecting patient safety must remain a national priority,” Thirunavukarasu said, adding that both enforcement agencies and the public play vital roles in ensuring illegal and unsafe medical practices are eradicated.
On Feb 14, the Immigration Department raided nine illegal clinics along Jalan Tun Tan Siew Sin, some of which had reopened after previous enforcement action.
Operating from hidden rooms behind retail shops, the clinics allegedly catered to foreign nationals. Officers seized controlled medicines, including antibiotics and drugs for chronic conditions, believed to have been smuggled from Bangladesh.
Eighteen men — 17 Bangladeshis and one Myanmar national — were detained, including individuals suspected of posing as doctors and charging RM50 to RM100 per consultation. The suspects are being investigated under immigration laws, while the Health Ministry is probing offences under the Sale of Drugs Act.
The operation was conducted by the Putrajaya Immigration Department and PASTAK, with assistance from the Kuala Lumpur Health Department.