1Care is just one suggestion
No healthcare model yet, says Liow
PUTRAJAYA: Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the Government has not decided on the new healthcare system as it was still evaluating various models, including studying the feasibility of the 1Care for 1Malaysia.
He said the Government was looking at various models, including the health insurance model, Epf-type model, social health insurance model, taxation model and other hybrid models, involving government-employeremployee participation.
“There are many modalities being studied, but (there is) no final decision yet. That is why we engage the stakeholders to give us their views. It’s not true that it is a done deal.
“The Government is going to keep engaging the public and all the stakeholders further,” he said in an interview.
Liow explained that the 1Care for 1Malaysia healthcare proposal was a hybrid model currently being studied.
“If it is found not suitable, it will not be implemented. That is why we have formed technical working groups to study and engage various stakeholders to ascertain the suitability and viability of such a model. This is very much at the preliminary stage,” he said.
However, he said some quarters had misinformed the people, causing uneasiness.
These included claims that employees would need to pay up to 9.5% of their monthly income as social health insurance contribution; see a doctor only up to six times a year; not have a choice of which doctor to see; that the proposed national health financing authority will become a Government-linked company; and that people would not be covered for all major illnesses, especially those involving expensive care.
Liow explained that the 9.5% was only a preliminary estimate of how much an average household needed for its healthcare.
“It is not the amount to be deducted from an individual’s income. Moreover, if the model is accepted, any contribution will be shared by the Government, employer and employees to cover healthcare expenses for all family members,” he said.