Solving the bottomless demand for healthcare

Cost controls are a means to an end, and that end is affordable healthcare access for all Malaysians.

There are many more tools to achieve equitable access, not just cost controls alone. This week though, we’ll examine ways to reduce unnecessary healthcare demand, which are an important factor in controlling costs.

Demand for healthcare rises as the population becomes bigger, older and sicker.

Demand also increases as the population becomes more educated and richer (PDF), regardless of the population size, age and disease prevalence.

Frankly, demand for healthcare is bottomless, and will only endlessly rise.