KUCHING: The federal government has been told to study the implications of raising the health services fee at government hospitals and clinics which is currently set at RM1.
Former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law), Tan Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said this is to ensure there are no negative effects on the economy and the rising living costs.
“We need to look at the current economic situation as well as the issue of inflation which causes a rise in the price of goods. The government must not only consider the issue of health but also the cost of living and its implications.
“I have no problems if we need to study whether to increase the hospital charges or otherwise, but we need to be realistic in what we are doing.
“We should not be looking only at those living in Kuala Lumpur as the yardstick, we also need to assess its impacts on those living in the rural areas of Sarawak and Sabah,” he told New Sarawak Tribune in a telephone interview yesterday (June 12).
Wan Junaidi compared the raising of hospital charges to the possible reduction in electricity subsidy in West Malaysia, whereby the poor will also be affected due to the cost being passed to consumers.
“While the hike in electricity charges will mainly affect the wealthy, we cannot deny that the lower income group will bear the brunt.
“If the electricity charges are raised for factories, the cost of goods produced will also increase – this will only be consumed by the rich but also the B40 group.
“Same concept applies to hospital fees, even if we say it only affects the higher income people, its impact will be widespread. The government must study all of its implications,” he said.
On Sunday, Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said while the hospital fee of RM1 is still maintained, she said the Ministry will be pragmatic once the Health White Paper is tabled in Parliament this month.
The document will detail the healthcare reforms to be implemented in phases over a period of 15 years.
“We will look at the crux of the matter including the health financing scheme which is part of the Health White Paper. For now, the scheme is maintained,” she was quoted as saying.
