March 12, 2025
PETALING JAYA – Malaysians are pleased with Putrajaya’s plan to provide basic health insurance and takaful products, but say that cheaper healthcare should not result in lower quality treatment.
Aside from creating a new basic health insurance plan that emphasises the concept of value-based healthcare, they said the government must ensure that it improves its services at public hospitals.
Content writer Ashley Tang, 34, noted that the government’s proposal is still in the discussion phase, emphasising the need for the public to receive further details in the future.
Of high concern to most Malaysians is the rising premium rates by insurance providers, she said.
“This is because our salaries are not rising in tandem with inflation,” she added.
Tang also said Malaysians opt for private health insurance given the state of affairs at public hospitals.
“The waiting period at government hospitals is too long,” she said.
Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Bank Negara Malaysia, the Health Ministry and the Employees Provident Fund will take steps to develop basic health insurance and takaful products that emphasise the concept of value-based healthcare.
He also said several measures have been identified to curb the increase in medical and health insurance and takaful premiums, such as the distribution of premium adjustment fees and the provision of alternative products.
Retiree Edmund Gunapalan, 62, welcomed the new initiative by the government but noted that a cheaper policy should not result in a diminished quality of healthcare.
“The government must ensure that its attempts to bring down premiums will not lower the quality of care and insurance coverage,” he said.
Edmund said he is now paying about RM6,000 annually for his medical insurance.
He said cheaper healthcare policies would surely reduce the impact of the rising cost of living on him.
“It will definitely help my family,” he said.
Sub-editor Tracy Gunapalan, 26, also welcomed the initiative but said more details have to be revealed to the public.
“I pay more than RM300 a month. This is a big amount for me, considering my pay,” she added.
Tracy said that everyone, regardless of their income level, must have access to basic healthcare.
Customer service representative Pravin Rasu is receptive to the initiative, saying that it would bring down prices of medical insurance, which is beneficial to most youths, given the rising cost of living.
“It will lead to cheaper insurance for the youth,” he said.
Pravin, 33, said it is important to ensure that healthcare is accessible to all, as basic healthcare is a human right.
“We must ensure that no one is left out of getting basic healthcare,” he added.