Pharmacists, represented by the Malaysian Pharmacists Society (MPS), welcome the initiative by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to conduct a public hearing on the rising costs of health insurance premiums, private hospital charges, and their impact on public health care.
This issue is of critical national importance as it affects the affordability, accessibility, and sustainability of Malaysia’s health care system.
The rising cost of private health care has placed a significant burden on the rakyat, with reports of sharp increases in insurance premiums and private hospital charges. This is further compounded by the spillover effect on public health care facilities, leading to congestion and longer waiting times in government hospitals.
As key health care providers, pharmacists are deeply concerned about the financial strain placed on Malaysians and the long-term viability of our health care ecosystem.
Transparency And Fairness In Health Care Pricing
MPS acknowledges that health care costs are rising, but any unilateral increase in insurance premiums or hospital charges must be justified and transparent.
The exponential rise in health care costs should not disproportionately burden the rakyat, while private health care players continue to report strong profit margins.
We urge the government to implement a transparent pricing framework that ensures accountability from all stakeholders. The recent initiative by the government for the display of the price of medicines is a good start to this effort.
For health care providers to deliver high-quality, cost-efficient care, they require clear and structured financing models. MPS urges the creation of a value-based health care financing system that ensures spending is tied to measurable patient outcomes rather than service volume.
Strengthening Public-Private Health Care Synergy
The increasing cost of private health care has resulted in higher dependency on public hospitals, stretching government resources thin. To alleviate this pressure, MPS strongly support the implementation of a National Health Insurance (NHI) that integrates public and private health care services.
A well-structured NHI will:
- Ensure financial protection for Malaysians by promoting affordable access to health care by creating a sustainable cost-sharing mechanism between the public and private sectors.
- Expand the role of community pharmacies and general practitioner clinics to reduce congestion by improving interoperability and resource efficiency between the public and private health care sectors.
- Improve collaboration between public hospitals, private hospitals, general practitioners (GPs), and community pharmacists for better patient outcomes and integrating them into a single, patient-centred ecosystem.
- Reduce out-of-pocket expenses, preventing financial hardship due to unexpected medical costs. A structured co-payment system can balance patient affordability with sustainable financing.
Strengthening The Role Of Pharmacists In Disease Prevention, Rational Medicine Use, And Cost Reduction
Pharmacists are central to medication affordability and patient safety. MPS advocates for:
- Strengthening the rational use of medicines to reduce unnecessary prescriptions and overuse of expensive medications.
- Increased utilisation of generic medicines, which can significantly reduce health care costs for both insurers and patients.
- Pharmacist-led interventions such as chronic disease management, medication therapy management (MTM) to optimise treatment effectiveness and prevent medication waste, and preventive care initiatives that can significantly reduce hospital visits and costs.
- Expanding insurance coverage for pharmacist-provided services, ensuring better patient adherence and health outcomes.
The government must act swiftly and decisively to address systemic inefficiencies and prevent further financial strain on the rakyat.
MPS firmly believes that pharmacists, alongside other health care providers, must be actively involved in shaping national health financing reforms to ensure a cost-effective, patient-centred health care system.
Pharmacists remains committed to working with policymakers, insurers, health care providers, and patient groups to establish a transparent, sustainable, and equitable health care ecosystem — one that ensures all Malaysians have access to high-quality, affordable health care without financial hardship.
Amrahi Buang is the president of the Malaysian Pharmacists Society.
- This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of CodeBlue.
