Keep our healthcare model as it is

THE Association of Specialists in Private Medical Practice Malaysia believes the present model of healthcare service in this country should stay, as it is probably the best possible model in the world.

Every country in the world, from rich to poor, under-developed to developed, from most populous, like India and China, to the most advanced in medicine, like the United States and Britain, continues to struggle to find the best working model.

Both public and private healthcare services in Malaysia have been growing and thriving phenomenally over the past four decades.

The sick, whether rich or poor, are receiving the best possible care, which is even attracting patients from abroad while also serving a large population of immigrant workers.

Naturally, the bulk of the poorer segment of society and members of the civil service receive care from the government sector while those who are insured and can afford the fees are receiving their care from the private sector hospitals and clinics.

Merging the two systems into one and running it under a single body that will fund both the current government and private sector staff and facilities would be a monumental task and would require a miracle to succeed.

We already have time-tested, well-managed government and private sector healthcare services working efficiently and running independently. Why risk the change at this stage?

When we look at the United States and Britain, government after government have tried to introduce a purportedly better and more efficient healthcare service, but each new proposal has failed to find the best solution. Indonesia embarked on a national healthcare scheme “BPJS”, which started well but now has numerous problems, resulting in many stakeholders and healthcare providers withdrawing from it.

We have many successful working models already in existence. The government district and general hospitals are a successful model for providing service to the poor and civil servants while it serves as a great training ground for both undergraduate and postgraduate doctors and allied healthcare staff. Isolated projects like the National Heart Institute (IJN) can be acclaimed as successful thanks to good funding and support by the Government.

The number of dialysis centres, both government and private, is another shining example of success contributed by the government, private sector and NGOs, as these three parties shoulder the burden of society together.

As for private hospitals, they will continue to grow to provide excellent care for both local, expatriate and also medical tourism patients.

Yes, there are issues about costs but these can be worked out and managed.

On these notes, the Association of Specialists in Private Medical Practice Malaysia expresses serious caution about any plan to form a single national healthcare system because it has not succeeded anywhere in the world.

Equity and excellent care for everyone is a great concept, but it is a dream that will fail except in a total socialist state which is prepared to bear the full burden of healthcare costs.

Instead, we suggest that we maintain the same two-tiered healthcare system with further fine-tuning, collaboration and integration.

Primary healthcare is important. The chain of private family practitioners should be allowed to offer their care also to the civil service and the poor with a scheme of reimbursement, especially for the sick after office hours, or during an emergency. Patients with chronic problems can perhaps be followed up by appointed family practitioners who would see them when they come to collect their medications from government pharmacies.

As for the critically ill or people with unique serious sicknesses, there are countries that have introduced a serious sickness law ensuring that all sufferers of such illnesses are funded, rich or poor.

This will take away a major burden on society and such unfortunate victims have the costs of their care fully borne by the government.

Replacing a great and well-tested healthcare service, both government and private, both of which have received international acclaim and recognition by the World Health Organisation and the Joint Commission International Accreditation Standards for Hospitals would be inviting disaster.

Can we entrust one single body to manage a multi-billion dollar annual health fund?

The answer, in bold, is: “No! Definitely not.”

DR SNG KIM HOCK

President

Association of Specialists in Medical Private Practice Malaysia