KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 – The National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2023 found that 12.9 per cent of people with unmet health care needs in the past year did not seek medical treatment due to cost.
These respondents reported that treatment was either too expensive or unaffordable due to lack of funds.
The survey, released by the Ministry of Health (MOH) last May 16, revealed that 2.3 per cent of Malaysia’s population reported unmet health care needs in the last 12 months, based on data collected between July and October last year. Of these, 12.9 per cent cited treatment costs as the reason for unmet needs.
The findings are based on a survey of 9,177 respondents, with a 26.5 per cent response rate. The survey reported high utilisation of outpatient health care services among children aged 0-9 years (22.2 per cent) and individuals aged 60 years and above (16.3 per cent).
Among those who sought outpatient services, 48.9 per cent went to public health care facilities, while 51.1 percent used private health care facilities.
The bulk of outpatient visits (61.5 per cent) were paid by patients, family, or household members, while 18.2 per cent were covered by panel clinics or employee insurance.
About 11.8 per cent of outpatient visits were exempt from medical fees for groups such as senior citizens and blood donors.
Meanwhile, three out of every 50 people, or 5.8 percent, utilised inpatient health care services or were admitted to hospitals in the 12-month period prior to the survey.
For inpatient care, about 74.7 per cent are admitted into public hospitals, while 25.3 per cent are admitted into private hospitals.
More than half (54.8 per cent) of hospital admissions were funded by patients themselves, their family members, or household, while 15 per cent were covered by private health insurance.
Around 9.6 per cent received fee exemptions, such as senior citizens and blood donors, while 8.8 per cent were covered by panel clinics or employee insurance.
The NHMS 2023 reported that outpatient health care had the largest average expenditure at RM134, followed by oral health care expenditure at RM28.
Approximately 8.6 million people in Malaysia, or 25.7 per cent, visited a dentist in the 12-month period prior to the survey. Among them, 68.4 per cent utilised the public sector, while 34.6 per cent utilised the private sector.
About 52.3 per cent of dental services were paid for by patients, their families, or household, while 43.6 per cent received fee exemptions, including students under school oral health programs, senior citizens, and blood donors. Only 3.7 per cent were paid for by panel clinics or employee insurance.
