KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 — The Ministry of Finance (MOF) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) have formalised a Joint Ministerial Committee on Private Healthcare Costs (JMCPHC) to address rising private health care and medical inflation.
JMCPHC is co-chaired by Finance Minister II Senator Amir Hamzah Azizan and Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad, with committee members consisting of representatives from MOF, MOH, and Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM). The committee will be supported by a Consultative Council.
“This joint committee reflects our commitment to work with all stakeholders to shape a private health care system that is sustainable, transparent, and delivers real value,” Amir Hazmah said in a joint statement by MOF and MOH released yesterday.
JMCPHC will be the primary platform to guide and monitor the implementation of the Reset framework touted by the central bank: Revamp medical and health insurance/takaful (MHIT), Enhance price transparency, Strengthen the digital health ecosystem, Expand cost-effective options, and Transform provider payments.
“Reset is broadly endorsed and supported by MOF, MOH, BNM, and key industry stakeholders as the strategic framework to address rising private health care and insurance costs,” said the MOF-MOH statement.
“Work on the crucial Reset initiatives have commenced, particularly on the development of a base MHIT product that balances affordability and sustainability, for the development of diagnostic-related group (DRG) payments for phased implementation, and improving the transparency of pricing information.”
Dzulkefly said in the MOF-MOH statement that the Reset framework touts value-based care, including the DRG payment system.
“Such initiatives will deliver tangible benefits for all Malaysians who benefit through reduced overcrowding and congestion of public hospitals and clinics,” said the health minister.
Members of JMCPHC:
- Finance Minister II Amir Hazmah Azizan
- Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad
- Treasury secretary-general Johan Mahmood Merican
- Treasury deputy secretary-general (investment) Shahrazat Ahmad (as an alternate to the Treasury secretary-general)
- Health director-general Dr Mahathar Abd Wahab
- MOH secretary-general Suriani Ahmad
- BNM governor Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour
Members of the Consultative Council on Private Healthcare Costs (other stakeholders may be invited to join, as needed):
- Life Insurance Association of Malaysia (LIAM) president Ben Ng
- LIAM chief executive officer Mark O’Dell
- Malaysian Takaful Association (MTA) representative Nor Azman Zainal
- Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia (APHM) honorary secretary Anwar Anis Anis Ahmad
- APHM board member Dr Tan Hui Ling
- Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president-elect Dr R. Arasu
- Association of Specialists in Private Medical Practice Malaysia (ASPMPM) adviser Dr Sng Kim Hock
- Monash University Malaysia president and pro vice-chancellor Prof Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman
- Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) chief executive officer Saravanan Thambirajah
