KUALA LUMPUR, June 15 – Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa today defended the government’s plan to review the fee structure in public health care facilities under the Ministry of Health (MOH).
The health minister said the fees charged in public health care facilities were “very minimal” due to huge subsidies from the government.
“The fees imposed are the same for all patients, regardless of their willingness to pay,” Dr Zaliha said when winding up debate on the Health White Paper (HWP) in the Dewan Rakyat today.
“In fact, the Ministry of Health does not have the mechanism to collect additional fees, even though there are patients who are willing and want to pay more because they appreciate the comprehensive services received.”
A few MPs on both sides of the divide, including former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan, earlier expressed concern about the proposal in the HWP for a fee review in public health care facilities based on patients’ ability to pay.
Tanjong Karang MP Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi from Perikatan Nasional (PN), however, supported an increase in fees, attributing the poor state of the public health service with long waiting times to the “static” RM1 user fee for outpatient care in public hospitals and health clinics under the MOH. An RM5 user fee is charged in these facilities for specialist care.
“Any change in the fee structure won’t be done immediately and arbitrarily. It will be studied closely and transparently with appropriate analysis and engagements with all stakeholders, like what Yang Berhormat Bangi said just now,” Dr Zaliha replied.
“What’s most important is to ensure that the people, especially the low-income and the poor, will not be affected and that they can continue to enjoy access to health services.”
The HWP justified the planned fee review in public health care facilities based on ability to pay on the basis of “huge inequality” with the current structure that charges the same fees for all for care, including high-income households.
Ironically, on the very same page of the document, the HWP also states its objective for people to receive comprehensive services “that are not tied to ability to pay”.
