Healthcare financing reforms include establishing National Health Fund, Rakan KKM not privatisation initiative

Healthcare financing reforms are among key issues undertaken in the Health White Paper and the ministry is looking at establishing National Health Fund in the long term.

“Basically the National Health Fund would function as fund collector and trustee. It would source for funds from various sources and government funding would be the core.

“It would lead the change towards health funding based on demand by ensuring transparency and accountability towards health fund,” said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad in his written reply.

Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (BN-Ayer Hitam) had asked for the latest update on the implementation of reforms as outlined in the Health White Paper.

He also asked the government to guarantee that the Rakan KKM is not an initial step towards privatising public health servicing that creates a two layer system based on the ability to pay.

On the second part of the question, Dzulkefly said that Rakan KKM merely upgrades several existing initiatives – Full Paying Patients and Flexihours in terms of equality and sustainability.

The Health Minister also dismissed the notion that Rakan KKM is an initiative towards privatisation of public hospitals.

“Firstly, in terms of ownership, the initiative is owned wholly by the government via MoF Inc and the involvement of government linked investment companies would be considered in the future.

“Second, Rakan KKM is monitored by the Health Ministry. So, the question of privatisation does not arise.

“Third, in terms of goals and usage of additional revenue clearly is in public interest.”

“The initiative is meant to add value to public health system as it enables those who can afford to have options for additional services voluntarily without force.

“The existing comprehensive public health service would be continued and would not be compromised in providing the public healthcare for Malaysians.”