Kuala Lampur, Oct. 2 -- The Academy of Medicine of Malaysia (AMM), representing the collective expertise of its 13 constituent Colleges, expresses profound concern regarding a recent directive issued by a third-party administrator (TPA) concerning the use of anaesthesia for daycare surgical cases.

The directive in question mandates that medical practitioners must seek prior approval and provide written justification for the use of general anaesthesia, while favouring local anaesthesia as the default. AMM views this directive as a significant overreach that directly impinges upon the clinical autonomy of surgeons and anaesthesiologists.

The choice of anaesthesia is a complex clinical decision made by qualified professionals after a thoro...