Healthcare plan may become BN cash cow, warns MP

An opposition MP has warned that the National Healthcare Financing Authority (NHFA) which is likely to collect premiums from Malaysians starting next year, will become another cash cow for the BN federal government.

In a statement issued today, Parit Buntar MP Mujahid Yusof Rawa (right) said that it will be compulsory for all Malaysians who are getting an income to pay premiums to the NHFA, which is likely to start operations in the first half of 2012, in order to receive medical treatment in both private clinics and government hospitals.

“Despite paying the premiums, we will have to fork out more money because the premiums only cover very basic treatment.

“The question is what will happen to people who do not have an income or no longer have an income? Where will they get their medical treatment?” he queried.

The lawmaker from PAS was worried that the NHFA may be turned into a government-linked company (GLC) and be led by a BN crony.

“If this is so, then we are likely to be doomed because the possibility of money being abused is great judging from the way other GLCs are run.

“We have seen too many cases of the top management receiving salaries and perks that take up a huge percentage of the operations cost,” he said.

With millions of Malaysians paying premiums each month, Mujahid said that the NHFA stands to get a windfall which is at the BN government’s disposal.

“There is a possibility of this new GLC being their latest cash cow,” he added.

He called on the public to attend a public forum entitled ‘Reforming the Malaysian Healthcare System: Is there a need?’ on Nov 27 at YMCA, Jalan Macalister, Penang from 1pm to 6pm.

According to Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai, the NHFA is a non-profit government organisation to manage the fund under the National 1Care Health Scheme (1Care), a government healthcare scheme to provide affordable medical treatment to all Malaysians.

Liow said the 1Care would provide protection to the people through a comprehensive social insurance scheme that would be packaged with clear and transparent benefits.