Health Ministry plans for non-profit health financial scheme

PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry is planning an alternative non-profit health financing scheme to address the limited coverage of out-of-pocket funds and private health insurance.

Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said while the current highly-subsidised public health care would be maintained, the plan was to address the challenges and limitations that Malaysians face with out-of-pocket payment and people facing financial difficulties.

“This will be a voluntary scheme,” he told a press conference during the Health Ministry and World Bank Joint Learning Meeting Highlights on the role of collaboration and knowlege sharing in strenthening health systems Friday.

More than half of the population go for private health services and over 30% of their health expenditure are out-of-pocket payments.

“If your pocket is deep enough you will be all right but if not, you will end up in financial catastrophe," he said.

Dr Subramaniam said a company would be set up under the Health Ministry to manage the non-profit scheme.

He assured that the current public healthcare services would maintain.

Asked if the scheme would accept those with medical conditions who are rejected by private health insurance, he said that it is hoped that the scheme would address the weakness in the private system over a period of time.