KUALA LUMPUR: Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), the Treasury Department and the Health Ministry are reviewing the increase in medical insurance premiums, said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The prime minister told the Dewan Rakyat that strict guidance would be issued for medical and health insurance and takaful (MHIT) and insurers and takaful operators (ITO) to take into consideration.
He said based on the explanation from insurance companies, the increase was based on a lower threshold in Malaysia, and the high cost of medicines and services.
This was the insurance companies' explanation.
"However, the Health Ministry and BNM are in the process of adjusting (this) so the increase (of premiums) is considered reasonable and not burdensome," he said during Prime Minister Question Time in Parliament, today.
Anwar said this in response to a question from Suhaizan Kaiat (PH-Pulai), who wanted to know of the government's measures to address the increase of insurance premiums of between 40 and 70 per cent.
Suhaizan also wanted the government to explain the country's medical cost inflation of 12.6 per cent last year, which was a two-fold increase in comparison to the global rate of 5.6 per cent.
Anwar stressed that he did not agree to the sharp increase in premium prices, and said he only agreed to a small increase that was deemed reasonable.
"We know that the reason (for the hike) is medical costs, particularly for medications.
"Currently, there is no control and in fact, the purchase of these medications has been under a monopoly for decades.
"That is why we will cancel some commitments with one or two companies and request the Health Ministry to obtain cheaper, more affordable generic medicines," Anwar added.
He said the generic medicines were more commonly found in countries such as Brazil, India and China.
The government, he said, would also come up with a diagnosis-related group (DRG) to standardise specialist fees, by early next year.
Anwar said this would also ensure that the costs for services such as magnetic resonance imaging and CT scans were reasonable and under control.
"(Another example,) when a stent is placed in a patient, what guarantees that the patient will remain stable for the next two or three years?
"If the patient returns to the hospital with issues, should there be a requirement that the hospital covers part, half, or the full cost? These are the matters being studied by the Health Ministry."
The finance minister and Tambun member of parliament also said the Health Ministry would also introduce the 'Rakan KKM' where patients could choose additional facilities at a minimal cost.
This, he said, would be a collaboration between government-linked investment companies and the Health Ministry.
Anwar added that the government would also look into amending the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act Schedule 13.
The Health Ministry, he said, would review the need to amend the act, especially on the matter of consultant fees.