In 2012, during the government of former Prime Minister Najib Razak, Rio Tiong Rai tried to introduce 1Care National Health Insurance. The idea was not well received by the public. One of the concerns was the rising cost of medical care for Malaysians and the consignment of publicly funded contracts to corporate interests.
A few months before the 2018 general election, Dr. Subramaniam Satasivam announced voluntary health insurance as a gradual step towards national health insurance, but the government lost the election.
Dr. Zulkefrai Ahmad of the victorious coalition also considered the idea, but the Pakatan Harapan government was short-lived.
In 2022, Health White Paper founder Kairi Jamaluddin said national health insurance was one form of healthcare funding to consider, and his successor continued to do so.
Dr. Zariha Mustafa, the current health minister, announced in March that the white paper would focus on the national health insurance system and consider diversifying funding sources.
If the document is passed by parliament, the Ministry of Health will undertake the basic work necessary to develop a national health insurance system, such as calculating contribution rates, developing medical benefit packages, and determining payment mechanisms for health care providers. He said it would start.
Why are you interested in National Health Insurance?
More funding is believed to be needed, given that the pandemic has exacerbated the pressure on Malaysia’s health care system.
