Why health insurance needs awareness, not more committees

PUBLIC concern over rising health insurance premiums and disputes over coverage has drawn attention to the role of Bank Negara Malaysia in overseeing insurers, takaful operators, and third-party administrators (TPA). There has also been a very specific call for a new independent commission by a certain health policy think tank.

Before I dive into this debate, I would like to express my gratitude to Dr Milton Lum, whose recent The Doctor Says column in StarHealth clearly mapped Malaysia’s patient grievance mechanisms in everything from from private hospitals and clinics to Health Ministry facilities, university hospitals, and the Malaysian Medical Council ("When patients need to complain"). His contribution provides a critical foundation for understanding what already exists.