KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 25 — Private hospitals have told health insurers that they seek to provide patients with the best care at the lowest possible prices at which private hospitals can continue to function sustainably.
The Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM) defined the “best care” as care that is tailored to the patient’s specific needs at the highest level of safety through evidence-based, compassionate, and prompt service, as well as reducing delays that may impact the patient’s outcome.
“The ‘best care’ may not always be the cheapest option,” said APHM in a statement to CodeBlue.
“While APHM strives to ensure competitive prices at lean profit margins, patients at APHM are fully empowered to make decisions on treatment options, including choosing to purchase generic drugs approved by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and choosing lower-priced medical devices.
“APHM has prioritised and will continue to prioritise treating patients according to clinical practice guidelines, and our doctors will continue to provide appropriate care while keeping the health care cost reasonable.
“APHM is working collaboratively with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance and Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), and is broadly aligned with the government’s initiative on cost containment.”
APHM’s statement was issued in response to a February 6 letter by AIA Bhd to its panel hospitals to limit advanced diagnostic tests and to substitute brand-name drugs with generic equivalents.
The insurer’s “request” to private hospitals was made in direct response to BNM’s interim measures to cap health insurance premium increases to 10 per cent for most policyholders until end 2026, described by AIA as coming at “great cost to the industry.”
Many Malaysians, however, told a town hall session by Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) last Friday that their insurers were ignoring the central bank’s cap on medical insurance premium hikes, among other measures.
One policyholder claimed that his insurer, described as “one of the biggest in Malaysia”, told him that the suspension of premium increases for senior citizens aged 60 years and older only applied to basic plans.
