Latest news with #AssociationofPrivateHospitalsMalaysia
The Star
a day ago
- Health
- The Star
Long, winding road towards DRG payment model rollout
KUALA LUMPUR: A proper rollout of the diagnosis-related group (DRG) payment model could take more than six months, given the complexities in data gathering and analysis, said Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM) president Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh. He said that for any DRG or any DRG-type mechanism to work, accurate clinical data and a national electronic health record system are needed. Presently, this foundational data is not yet available, which presents significant challenges for timely and effective DRG implementation, he added. 'As the process of gathering and analysing such data is complex and time-consuming, APHM anticipates that a proper rollout will require considerably more than six months,' said Dr Kuljit. He also said the APHM is heartened to hear Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad's announcement at the APHM International Healthcare Conference and Exhibition 2025 that a basic medical and health insurance/takaful (MHIT) product will be introduced later this year, while the DRG will be rolled out in phases. To support this national initiative, Dr Kuljit said APHM member hospitals have offered to share relevant clinical data required for the set-up of a DRG system with the Health Ministry and the Finance Ministry. 'APHM strongly advocates that adequate time and resources be allocated to ensure that the DRG initiative is thoroughly conceptualised, piloted and implemented to ultimately deliver sustainable improvements for all Malaysians,' added Dr Kuljit. Earlier, Dzulkefly said introducing DRGs to pay for healthcare services, in phases, beginning with MHIT products, will be a key driver for value-based healthcare.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Health
- New Straits Times
APHM offers clinical data to support DRG system pricing rollout
KUALA LUMPUR: Member hospitals under the Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM) have offered to share clinical data essential for developing the Diagnostic-Related Group (DRG) pricing model. In a statement today, APHM said its member hospitals will provide the relevant data to the Health and Finance Ministries, as this foundational data is currently unavailable and poses significant challenges to the timely and effective implementation of the DRG system. "APHM is heartened to hear (Health Minister) Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad shared in his opening speech at the APHM International Healthcare Conference & Exhibition 2025 today that a basic medical and takaful health insurance product will be introduced this year, while the DRG will be rolled out in phases. "For the DRG or any DRG-type mechanism to work, accurate clinical data and a national electronic health record system are needed. "At present, this foundational data is not yet available, which presents significant challenges for timely and effective DRG implementation," it said. APHM said implementing the DRG system properly will take more than six months, as the data collection and analysis process is both complex and time-consuming. The association also advocates allocating sufficient time and resources to ensure that the DRG model is well conceptualised, thoroughly piloted, and effectively executed to bring long-term improvements to Malaysia's healthcare system. On April 18, Dzulkefly said the ministry plans to implement the DRG syste m in stages this year, starting with common illnesses. On April 21, APHM's president Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh said the DRG pricing model presents a major challenge for Malaysia, primarily due to the lack of a universal healthcare financing system. The DRG model is a billing system under which hospitals charge a fixed fee for treating specific illnesses or conditions, aimed at curbing medical inflation.
The Star
2 days ago
- Health
- The Star
Proper DRG roll out can take more than six months, says private hospitals association
KUALA LUMPUR: A proper rollout of the diagnosis-related group (DRG) payment model could take more than six months given the complexities in data gathering and analysis, says the Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM), adding that it is ready to provide any help. Its president Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh said accurate clinical data and a national electronic health record system is needed for any DRG-type mechanism to work He said this foundational data is not available yet. "As the process of gathering and analysing such data is complex and time-consuming, APHM anticipates that a proper rollout will require considerably more than six months," he said. Dr Kuljit also said the APHM welcomed Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad's announcement that a basic medical and health insurance/takaful product would be introduced later this year and the DRG rolled out in phases. To support this national initiative, Dr Kuljit said APHM member hospitals have offered to share relevant clinical data with the Health Ministry and the Finance Ministry. "APHM strongly advocates that adequate time and resources are allocated to ensure that the DRG initiative is thoroughly conceptualised, piloted and implemented, to ultimately deliver sustainable improvements for all Malaysians," he said. The DRG payment system involves paying a fixed sum based on the diagnosis and treatment provided, rather than itemising each charge. It is said the DTG model can help regulate medical costs by limiting excessive charges. Examples of countries that have implemented this are Sweden, Canada and Australia. Earlier, in his opening speech, Dr Dzulkefly said introducing DRG in phases to pay for healthcare services, beginning with the base medical and health insurance/takaful products, would be a key driver for value-based healthcare. He also said the Health Ministry is hoping to introduce the DRG payment model by the end of 2025.
![[UPDATED] Malaysia's health spending jumps 4 times in 20 years](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fimages%2Farticles%2FDzulkefly_Ahmadwe_1749435876.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Health
- New Straits Times
[UPDATED] Malaysia's health spending jumps 4 times in 20 years
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's per capita health expenditure nearly quadrupled between 2000 and 2020. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the figure surged from RM600 in 2000 to RM1,600 in 2020, driven by rising demand for healthcare and advances in medical technology. "Private sources accounted for RM40 billion, or 47 per cent, of total health expenditure in 2024. "Out-of-pocket spending remains high, at around 36 per cent of total health expenditure. "Our vision is to sustainably expand fiscal space while ensuring healthcare remains accessible, high-quality, and equitable," he said at the launch of the 31st Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM) International Healthcare Conference & Exhibition 2025, here, today. Dzulkefly said the Health Ministry was working with the Finance Ministry, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), and the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) to develop a health insurance and takaful product. This product will support the rollout of the new Diagnosis-Related Groups (DRGs) system, which aims to transform the way healthcare services are paid for. He also dismissed speculation of a delay in the DRG implementation, adding that the initiative remained on track to be introduced in phases by the end of this year, starting with the "Rakan KKM" project. "This is not privatisation. It is publicly owned and developed for public benefit, offering optional value-added services within the Health Ministry's hospitals. "We are already seeing proof-of-concept through the Hospital Service Outsourcing Programme (HSOP), which applies bundled payment principles. "For example, waiting times for arteriovenous (AV) fistula creation for haemodialysis patients have been reduced by over 75 per cent," he added. Turnaround times for Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Angiography (MRI/MRA) services have also improved by more than 20 per cent, Dzulkefly said, saying these value-based models demonstrated that system efficiency and clinical outcomes could be enhanced. Meanwhile, APHM president Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh highlighted the lack of a national electronic health record system, which he said was a critical gap in the DRG implementation process. "The absence of such a system makes DRG implementation more complex," he said. Nevertheless, he expressed appreciation for the ministry's commitment to collaboration and its data-driven, evidence-based approach to the DRG rollout.
The Star
03-06-2025
- Health
- The Star
M'sia leads medical tourism charge
PETALING JAYA: From the Maldives to mainland China, foreigners are drawn to the world-class healthcare offered by private hospitals in the country, says Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia president Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh (pic). Apart from being cost-effective, these foreign patients were keen on the transparent healthcare plans offered by Malaysian private hospitals, he said. Another plus factor for them was the ease of communication as English is widely spoken, he said in an interview. Last Wednesday, the Health Ministry announced that Malaysia has been ranked as the top destination for medical tourism based on quality, infrastructure, cost-effectiveness and ease of access by Nomad Capitalist, a Dubai-based wealth consultancy firm. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said in a Facebook post that Malaysia's medical tourism sector generated about RM2bil in revenue in 2023, with 1.3 million foreigners seeking treatment in the country. Dr Kuljit told The Star that foreign nationalities who sought treatment are mainly from Indonesia, China, Bangladesh and the Maldives. The rest are from Europe and the United States. 'We are way more affordable compared to our neighbouring countries and far cheaper than western countries,' he said, estimating that foreign patients seeking treatment in Malaysia would be paying 20% to 50% lower than elsewhere. 'For those from the US, the savings could be up to 70% compared to what they would need to fork out in their own country.' He said foreign patients seek a variety of treatments ranging from simple health screening to sophisticated interventions. Dr Kuljit said that being a predominantly Muslim country was also advantageous as it was a plus point for Muslim patients. 'Another factor that has earned the trust and confidence of international patients are Malaysia's strict healthcare standards and accreditation with global medical bodies. 'They are treated with care and only discharged when they are fit to leave the facility,' he added. However, while medical care is seamlessly rendered, Dr Kuljit acknowledged that the biggest challenge private hospitals face is inadequate capacity for inpatients. 'A shortage of manpower such as nurses is an issue,' he said. Furthermore, he said restrictions and conditions imposed on private hospitals that curtail healthcare costs can prove to be a hindrance to the growth of medical tourism. But in the long term, he said Malaysia's future as a medical tourism hub remains bright as the projected number of patients exceeds targets annually. 'I am confident that Malaysia's reputation as one of the leading medical tourism destinations in the world will only continue to grow in leaps and bounds as private hospitals in Malaysia remain committed to delivering reliable, world-class care to Malaysians first and foremost and to the rest of the world,' he added. Dr Kuljit said Malaysians no longer need to travel abroad in search of premium healthcare. 'However, these advantages are sometimes overlooked by Malaysians and lead to a misunderstanding of the role of private hospitals. There is a mistaken notion that the services offered are medical tourism-oriented and solely driven by profit,' he said. He explained that private hospitals strive to improve continuously to meet world-class standards that benefit both the local population and medical tourists. Asked if private hospitals would extend their services to low-income Malaysians as part of their corporate social responsibility since they have earned revenue from medical tourism, he said such initiatives will be further enhanced if private hospitals managed to increase capacity. 'We are happy to work with the public healthcare system and conduct such programmes but we need to have greater capacity and manpower,' he said.
