Commentary: Is a nationwide medical insurance like South Korea or Singapore the way in which to go for Malaysia?

In 2012, Mr Liow Tiong Lai tried to introduce 1Care nationwide medical insurance throughout former prime minister Najib Razak’s administration. The concept was not well-received by the folks: One concern was healthcare value escalation for Malaysians and contracts financed by public funds being outsourced to company pursuits.

Months earlier than the 2018 basic election, Dr Subramaniam Sathasivam introduced the Voluntary Well being Insurance coverage as an incremental step in direction of a nationwide medical insurance, however the authorities misplaced the election.

The successful coalition’s Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad additionally thought of the concept however the Alliance of Hope administration was short-lived.

Mr Khairy Jamaluddin, who began the Well being White Paper, mentioned in 2022 that nationwide medical insurance is among the types of healthcare funding to be thought of – one thing his successor has continued.

Present Well being Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa introduced in March that the White Paper will look into diversifying funding sources, with give attention to a nationwide medical insurance scheme.

If the paper passes in parliament, the ministry will start primary work required for the event of a nationwide medical insurance scheme, equivalent to calculating contribution charges, creating well being profit packages and figuring out the fee mechanism for well being service suppliers, she mentioned.

WHY THE INTEREST IN A NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE?

It’s provided that extra funding is required, given the pressures on Malaysia’s well being system, made worse by the pandemic.