KUALA LUMPUR: Controlling inflation and widening insurance base coverage is the approach the government is looking at to tackle soaring medical costs, says Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan.
He said the Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG) system is one of the important aspects to address the issue.
"We have agreed to expand the insurance coverage in Malaysia as not everyone is protected.
"Those who are not will have to go back to government (healthcare).
"It is important for the government to sort out the base cover," he said when winding-up debates on the Supply Bill 2026 in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Nov 4).
He said the government had sought feedback from insurance players, private companies and the medical fraternity on the matter and the DRG items that can be included.
He said the government would also look at whether the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) can be roped in for the initiative but this would be subject to the retirement fund's agreement.
"The government is not siding with any party but what it wants to do is structural reforms to control cost in the future through a better approach and sustainable solution," he said.
"We ask for some patience but we have put in a moratorium to have time for this approach to be implemented," he added.
Sim Tze Tzin (PH-Bayan Baru) in his interjection said insurance companies are now intervening in medical clinical decisions.
"They are forcing doctors to do this and that. I think this is a breach of clinical decisions. There is also an issue of guarantee letters which can be retracted anytime," he said.
"When they buy insurance, they (patients) expect that they will be protected but when they go there (hospitals), the guarantee letter is withdrawn or they are asked to pay first and claim later.
"People don't have the money. It is impossible to come up with RM20,000 and RM30,000 or more when one falls sick suddenly," said Sim.
He said Bank Negara would have to look into the matter and that such "unscrupulous ways of doing business" should not be allowed.
