Materia Medica Malaysiana

Najib: New healthcare system inevitable

KUANTAN, Sat. - The introduction of the proposed National Health Insurance Scheme is inevitable due to the rising cost of health care, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today.
"The construction of more hospitals, including specialist centres and those offering rural healthcare services, means that our healthcare spending is increasing," Najib said after opening a carnival to mark the 40th anniversary of Sekolah Menengah Abdul Rahman Taib here.
"Then, there is the need to stock up on medicine, some of which have to be imported.
"One day in the near future, we will have to have a healthcare financing system which will lessen the Government's burden."
Health director-general Datuk Dr Ismail Merican was quoted as saying today that the National Health Insurance Scheme was expected to be implemented by the end of next year.
Najib, however, said the introduction of the scheme would not burden the poor and members of the civil service, who currently enjoy healthcare subsidies from the Government.
He said the Government would explain to the people the rationale behind the introduction of the scheme and its merits.
"Don't just think about the cost of the scheme. We have to also think about what it can contribute to the improvement of the country's healthcare system."
Even wealthy countries such as the US and Britain, Najib said, could not afford to provide their people with indefinite free medical care.
"In fact, their healthcare schemes are plagued with problems, with some patients having to wait a long time for operations despite being in critical condition.
"Despite that, I can assure you that the scheme will place priority on quality service for all."