It will be mandatory for all Malaysians to be involved in the proposed “1Care for 1Malaysia” healthcare scheme. However, the government has yet to draw up its execution plan.
“For the healthcare providers it is not compulsory but for the people, it is mandatory,” said the Health Ministry’s Unit for National Health Financing (NHF) deputy director Dr Rozita Halina Hussein (right).
This, said Rozita, is to ensure the pool of contribution is at its maximum and everyone is equally covered.
“For the healthcare providers it is not compulsory but for the people, it is mandatory,” said the Health Ministry’s Unit for National Health Financing (NHF) deputy director Dr Rozita Halina Hussein (right).This, said Rozita, is to ensure the pool of contribution is at its maximum and everyone is equally covered.
“The government has not made any decision, or taken any move one way or the other... we are looking at various option which are available, we are looking at the best global practices and what is suitable for the country, because you cannot take wholesale,” she said.
The ministry today sought to allay fears that the 1Care proposal would require Malaysian to fork out some 10 percent of their monthly income to sustain the system while it only offers selected public health services and rationed visits to the doctor.
However, this may result in further brickbats to the ministry whose director-general, Dr Hasan Abdul Rahman, only last week said that the proposal was in its initial stages following discontent that it would eventually result in salary deductions.
Rozita, in a two hour briefing to the media, however stated that despite the mandatory participation, all the other criteria were mere estimations.
“We cannot conceptualise out of thin air, we practice evidence-based policy planning... so when we estimated things, they were at the highest possible level,” she said.
Rozita rebutted claims that visits to the doctors will be capped at six visits per annum, stressing that it was an estimation from the average visits the 28 million population make for medical care annually.
“But ask yourself, do you make six visits a year to the hospital or clinic? Maybe not because you are young and healthy... maybe once or not at all.
“On the other hand, we know of elderly people who make 12 to 16 visits a year to the hospital... so this are averages for a nation... (the concept paper) doesn’t say anything about rationing for healthcare,” said Rozita.
‘Misinformation’ contributes to the hype
“Misinformation” has contributed to the hype, said Rozita, adding that facts from the concept papers have been “twisted” by certain members, who are part of some of the 11 technical working groups, although it was made clear that the numbers cited were preliminary estimates.
“In fact we want people to access healthcare as and when they need healthcare and that is the idea on developing that relationship with your doctor,” she explained.
She also clarified that the 10 percent contribution were drawn up based on average visits to the hospital and clinics for general and specialised medical care.
“We came up with a generous ballpark figure to inform the government. To make it more real we looked at from the perspective of people’s income now... we didn’t account in terms of individual income but household income... and the said figure will include contributions from three groups - the government, employers and the individual,” she said.
As to ensuring that the system that comes into implementation is transparent, accountable and all-encompassing, Rozita said the ministry is studying similar national healthcare schemes from around the world, not just the United Kingdom.
“What works for England... might not work for Malaysia. We are looking at Thailand, Taiwan, Germany and across the globe for the best learning practices suitable for our country,” she said.
The ministry today sought to allay fears that the 1Care proposal would require Malaysian to fork out some 10 percent of their monthly income to sustain the system while it only offers selected public health services and rationed visits to the doctor.
However, this may result in further brickbats to the ministry whose director-general, Dr Hasan Abdul Rahman, only last week said that the proposal was in its initial stages following discontent that it would eventually result in salary deductions.
Rozita, in a two hour briefing to the media, however stated that despite the mandatory participation, all the other criteria were mere estimations.
“We cannot conceptualise out of thin air, we practice evidence-based policy planning... so when we estimated things, they were at the highest possible level,” she said.
Rozita rebutted claims that visits to the doctors will be capped at six visits per annum, stressing that it was an estimation from the average visits the 28 million population make for medical care annually.
“But ask yourself, do you make six visits a year to the hospital or clinic? Maybe not because you are young and healthy... maybe once or not at all.
“On the other hand, we know of elderly people who make 12 to 16 visits a year to the hospital... so this are averages for a nation... (the concept paper) doesn’t say anything about rationing for healthcare,” said Rozita.
‘Misinformation’ contributes to the hype
“Misinformation” has contributed to the hype, said Rozita, adding that facts from the concept papers have been “twisted” by certain members, who are part of some of the 11 technical working groups, although it was made clear that the numbers cited were preliminary estimates.
“In fact we want people to access healthcare as and when they need healthcare and that is the idea on developing that relationship with your doctor,” she explained.
She also clarified that the 10 percent contribution were drawn up based on average visits to the hospital and clinics for general and specialised medical care.
“We came up with a generous ballpark figure to inform the government. To make it more real we looked at from the perspective of people’s income now... we didn’t account in terms of individual income but household income... and the said figure will include contributions from three groups - the government, employers and the individual,” she said.
As to ensuring that the system that comes into implementation is transparent, accountable and all-encompassing, Rozita said the ministry is studying similar national healthcare schemes from around the world, not just the United Kingdom.
“What works for England... might not work for Malaysia. We are looking at Thailand, Taiwan, Germany and across the globe for the best learning practices suitable for our country,” she said.
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