The
influx of Singaporeans in Malaysian hospitals following the republic’s decision
last year to extend its national medical insurance – Medisave – to include
treatment sought here has received mixed reactions.
While the government views it positively in
line with medical tourism as the key focus of the healthcare national key
economic area (NKEA), consumer associations are more wary of the possible
effects.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said
the development would not have a negative impact on Malaysians, and would instead
bring positive results.
“It will enhance medical treatment in the
country by giving the private sector a bigger role to play,” he said, adding it
is not a zero-sum game.
“It will attract locals from overseas because
when private hospitals are good, they will be able to employ more specialists
and our specialists working overseas will come back.
“If we have good doctors coming into the
country, it will benefit the locals who choose to seek medical treatment from
private hospitals.”
On the possibility that it would result in
Malaysians having to pay higher medical bills, Liow said under the Medical Act
1971, the ministry regulates the fees imposed by doctors and specialists,
including those in private hospitals.
“We have a fee schedule in the act for all
doctors and specialists. There is a range of prices for all kinds of diseases.
They would have to follow the schedule accordingly,” he said.
Asked whether the ministry could instruct
private hospitals to give preference to Malaysians, Liow said the matter should
not arise as treatment should be given to anybody who needs it.
“We cannot simply reject a case. We treat
foreigners and locals the same because we are hospitals, looking at diseases
and treatments, not the economic aspect. It’s not the way,” he said.
“This government policy is very obvious. We
treat everybody who come to us."
He also said the government is encouraging
more countries to take similar action under its NKEA entry point projects.
Meanwhile, Federation of Malaysian Consumers
Associations (Fomca) communications director Mohd Yusof Abdul Rahman said the
move is a good recognition of the Malaysian health treatment industry.
“Usually we hear cases of Malaysians seeking
treatment in Singapore as they have better medical services there. But now, we
can be proud with this acknowledgement that our hospitals are at par with those
in Singapore,” he said.
However, Fomca is worried that it would result
in higher medical costs for locals as Mohd Yusof claimed the government has not
been strictly enforcing the law on doctors' and specialist fees.
“The government has said it would come up with
a specific guideline on fees to be imposed by doctors and the prices of
medicines, but until now we haven't seen it.
“We need this guideline so that the government
can impose a ceiling price for everything, including charges for hospital
facilities such as rooms or wards and machines,” he said.
He also said having more foreigners seeking
treatment in the country could result in higher prices of other goods such as
food and houses.
Thus, Mohd Yusof suggested that the government
impose a levy or tax on foreigners who seek treatment in Malaysian hospitals.
Husna Yusop
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
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