Materia Medica Malaysiana

MMA: Improve healthcare system first

Improve the healthcare system before introducing the National Health Insurance scheme. This seemed to be the opinion of several participants at the Medical Law conference themed "Current developments and future implications" held today.
Malaysian Medical Association president Datuk Dr N. Arumugam said there were limitations in the healthcare system that needed to be addressed.
"What we want is a good healthcare system that the people are happy with. If people are happy, then doctors will be happy," he said.
Speaking as a panellist at the session, Dr Arumugam said the ministry should come out with more details on the NHI.
National Council of Senior Citizens’ Organisations Malaysia president Lum Kin Tuck, also a panellist, called for a Royal Commission to look into the problems facing the Health Ministry. He also urged the Government to look into a "social" pension for the elderly.
Malaysian Trades Union Congress secretary-general G. Rajasekaran said that the Government should ensure that public healthcare services were not privatised and that it should reach the entire population.
Dr T. Jayabalan, representing the Consumers’ Association of Penang, said as a country became more affluent, there was a need to increase healthcare spending.