00:00A think tank is raising concerns over plans to add private wings to more government-run
00:07hospitals aiming to boost funds for the nation's underfunded public healthcare system.
00:12The Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy said the proposal suffered from many pitfalls,
00:18including a lack of capacity in government facilities and a shortage of doctors, nurses
00:23and diagnostic equipment.
00:25The private wing could take away much-needed resources from the main patient load, Galen
00:30CEO Azrul Kalib said.
00:32Last week, Health Minister Dr Zulkifli Ahmad suggested that the health ministry is hoping
00:37to offer full-paying patient services at public hospitals to boost revenue.
00:42Although Azrul was confident the proposal would generate revenue, he questioned whether
00:46it would be enough to cover the full cost of these services.
00:50He said the government should discontinue the existing RM1 consultation fees charged
00:55by public healthcare facilities because the revenue raised will never be enough.
00:59Instead, he said Pushejaya should introduce health and social insurance to raise new funds
01:04for health and aged care.
01:07Sam Wichua, FMT News.
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