Joint ministerial committee to tackle rising healthcare costs
Finance minister II Amir Hamzah Azizan (left) and health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad attending the first meeting of the joint ministerial committee on private healthcare costs. (KKM pic)
PETALING JAYA : The finance and health ministries have officially established the joint ministerial committee on private healthcare costs (JMCPHC) in a move aimed at ensuring affordable private healthcare in Malaysia.
The committee, which held its first meeting today, aims to coordinate a whole-of-nation approach in managing medical inflation and improving transparency and sustainability within the private healthcare sector, said the ministries in a statement.
Co-chaired by finance minister II Amir Hamzah Azizan and health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad, the JMCPHC includes representatives from both ministries and Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).
The committee will be supported by a consultative council which brings together private hospitals, healthcare professionals, insurance and takaful providers, consumer advocacy groups, and academics to provide expert input and technical advice to guide the committee's initiatives.
'This joint committee reflects our commitment to building a private healthcare system that is sustainable, transparent, and delivers real value for the rakyat,' said Amir.
Dzulkefly said the committee aims to reduce overcrowding in public hospitals and improve access to private healthcare by embracing value-based care and expanding cost-effective options.
The committee will also look to improve existing programmes such as Rakan KKM, which offers 'premium economy' services at selected public hospitals for elective outpatient, daycare and inpatient services.
The JMCPHC builds upon previous groundwork, including BNM's implementation of co-pay requirements, interim measures to cushion the impact of medical premium adjustments for policyholders affected in 2024-2026, and the RESET framework.
The RESET framework covers five strategic thrusts to address medical inflation – revamp medical and health insurance/takaful (MHIT), enhance price transparency, strengthen the digital health ecosystem, expand cost effective options, and transform provider payments.
One of the committee's immediate priorities includes the development of a base MHIT product to ensure affordability and sustainability.
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