KUALA LUMPUR: A joint task force comprising the Health Ministry and Bank Negara Malaysia should be set up to investigate whether medical insurance premium increases are tied to the private healthcare services costs, says a group of PKR lawmakers.
Sim Sze Tzin (PH-Bayan Baru) said the task force should include experts across the medical, actuarial science, public health policy fields and more to investigate, study and find a resolution.
He also urged independent bodies like the Public Accounts Committee to conduct proceedings and public hearings to investigate the situation.
“We don’t want to point the finger at anyone or curb private healthcare sector profits.
“We only want a sustainable and fruitful private healthcare ecosystem,” he told a press conference at the Parliament media centre on Monday (Dec 9).
Sim also pointed out the growing profits of two private healthcare groups over the past few years and questioned if it was due to medical insurance premium increases.
He added that the group of PKR MPs also received 197 email complaints regarding exorbitant private hospital fees since the campaign was launched several weeks earlier.
When asked if the complaints would be brought to the Parliamentary Special Select Committee on Health on Tuesday (Dec 10), Sim said they would do so if required.
“Backbenchers are also expected to receive a briefing by Bank Negara Malaysia tomorrow,” Sim said.
On Monday, The Star reported that Insurance players, Bank Negara Malaysia and the Health Ministry are set to appear before the Parliamentary Special Select Committee for Health for a hearing on the issue of rising insurance premiums.
