Health ministry moots compulsory insurance for refugees, asylum seekers

 Deputy minister says this will help cover treatment costs and curb new medical bill arrears involving non-citizen patients.

The health ministry attributed more than 80% of outstanding medical bills involving non-citizen patients to undocumented migrants or stateless persons. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR:

The health ministry has proposed making health insurance coverage or contributions compulsory for registered refugees and asylum seekers to help cover their treatment costs and prevent new medical bill arrears.

Deputy health minister Hanifah Hajar Taib told the Dewan Rakyat that this should apply to refugees and asylum seekers registered under the government’s refugee registration system, also known as DPP.

She attributed more than 80% of outstanding medical bills involving non-citizen patients to undocumented migrants or stateless persons.

However, she said, the ministry had to ensure treatment was provided to all patients on humanitarian grounds, particularly in life-threatening cases.

“This is in line with the Declaration of Geneva, the Hippocratic Oath and the Alma-Ata Declaration 1978,” she said in winding up the debate on the auditor-general’s report on the health ministry’s finances.

Hanifah said the ministry’s overall accounts receivable fell from RM359 million in 2024 to RM336 million in 2025, a reduction of RM23 million or 6.4%.

She said unpaid medical bills involving non-citizens were not solely caused by weaknesses in fee collection.

They were also linked to patients’ financial constraints, lack of insurance coverage, patients leaving health facilities without paying, and incomplete or inaccurate identity and contact information.

“These make it difficult for the health ministry to trace patients and take follow-up action for collection purposes.”

She said public health facilities had taken several steps to recover the money, including issuing three reminder letters at intervals, sending legal demands or notices, contacting patients’ embassies or next of kin, seeking payment from employers, and working with NGOs to help settle bills owed by those unable to pay.

The ministry was also strengthening its “collect before discharge” approach by mandating deposits and payments during treatment, expanding cashless payment options, and stepping up monitoring of accounts receivable.

She said cooperation with employers, insurance companies and NGOs was also being strengthened, while the value of bank guarantees required from employers and private companies would be increased in line with rising treatment costs. - FMT