The Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia urges all health care insurance stakeholders, with the help of the Life insurance Association of Malaysia (LIAM) and General Insurance Association of Malaysia (PIAM), to reconsider the restrictive claim benefits for their clients with Covid-19.
The current daily numbers of Covid-19 are below 5,000 per day and the national Covid-19 infectivity rate, or Rt value, is 0.70.
The percentage of patients in ICU receiving critical care treatment for Covid-19 has reduced significantly and the high numbers of vaccinated population complete with boosters will prevent admission into ICU.
This will bring the risk of high claims to a minimal amount.
We are of the view that all patients with medical cards should be treated like normal patients as per pre-pandemic, even if they test positive for Covid-19.
However, medical opinions will be required whether to proceed with certain procedures and treatment while infected with Covid-19. There are cases which may require urgent treatment despite of Covid infection, but certain insurance policies will deny a guarantee letter in a private hospital, hence these patients may have to be transferred to a government facility.
The Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia has been in communication with LIAM and PIAM, but the final decision on the policy is with the insurance companies.
The recent announcement on removal of testing before arriving as a tourist or returning Malaysian to the country is well received as this will further ease medical tourists to travel to our hospitals.
However, private hospitals will exercise relevant tests on patients before any admission or surgery.
Most private hospitals will continue their own internal standard operating procedures in managing patients with Covid-19 and practice safe practices to avoid spread amongst patients and health care workers.
Dr Kuljit Singh is the president of the Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM).
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