IPOH: The hike in insurance premiums may be one of the factors for the T20 group turning to public hospitals to seek treatment, says Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (pic).
The Health Minister said while T20 households are generally able to afford private healthcare through insurance or out-of-pocket payments, higher medical costs may cause some to reconsider their policies.
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“If insurance premiums, whether conventional or takaful, continue to rise, even the T20 may reconsider (continuing) their policies, not only the M40.
“That is why it’s very important to mitigate and control insurance costs,” he told reporters after attending the state-level Parti Amanah Nasional convention here yesterday.
He was asked to comment on a report that Hospital Kuala Lumpur no longer treats only low-income patients as wealthier people also sought treatment there.
Meanwhile, Dzulkefly said there must be cooperation between insurance companies, takaful operators, Bank Negara and private medical providers to address medical inflation.
He said while public hospitals are open to all Malaysians, the issue of wealthy individuals seeking treatment there warrants closer study, particularly in the context of targeted subsidies.
“Public hospitals nationwide are not exclusive to the B40 group.
“However, the T20 usually have insurance or they pay out-of-pocket while in private hospitals.
“There are some cases where they seek treatment in public hospitals, particularly during emergencies when referrals are made,” Dzulkefly said.
He said the ministry would continue to monitor the situation and ramp up efforts to ensure fair access and sustainable healthcare financing.
“This needs careful follow-up, particularly on whether targeted subsidies will also apply to charges when T20 patients receive treatment in public hospitals.”
During his speech at the convention, Dzulkefly, who is Amanah vice-president, said politics of hate that exploits differences in identity would only weaken unity at a time when leaders are working to strengthen cooperation under the government framework at all levels.
“We must firmly reject identity politics that belittles others simply because of differences, whether those differences are rooted in religion, race or ethnicity,” he later told reporters.
Dzulkefly stressed that narrow identity politics, when exploited as a tool for power, is a “poison” that undermines the people’s unity.
“We will only progress if we remain united, value diversity and turn our differences into strength,” he said.
On the upcoming Sabah polls, Dzulkefly said seat negotiations with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah are progressing smoothly.
“We hope that some seats will be allocated to Amanah so that we can secure our first representation in Sabah in the coming election,” he added.
