PAC organises first-ever public hearing on rising insurance premiums, healthcare costs

The Star

A full house turned up at the public hearing on the rise of health insurance premiums and hospital charges and their impact on public healthcare at a hotel in Bukit Jambul in George Town, Penang on Friday (Feb 14).   The three-hour session organised by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) saw some 100 people come together to voice their concerns about the costs.   Read more at https://tinyurl.com/bd2r2ec5   WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/TheStar LIKE: https://fb.com/TheStarOnline

Transcript

00:00A full house turned up at the Public Accounts Committee, PAC Public Hearing on rising health

00:07insurance premiums and private hospital charges at a hotel in Bukit Jambul on Friday.

00:13PAC Chairman Datuk Mas Ermiyati Samsudin assured that all perspectives shared during

00:19the session will be considered in drafting a comprehensive report on the issue.

00:24We all want the best for the health of Malaysians and a lot of things need to be looked at.

00:35All parties need to work together.

00:39This is not just a question of one party, but all networks and all parties involved,

00:48from the private sector, government, ordinary people and even those with disabilities.

00:59Many participants expressed frustration over the steep increase in health insurance and

01:04takaful premiums and non-transparent hospital charges.

01:07I will just recount one bad experience I had with a prominent private hospital in Penang.

01:13My wife went for treatment.

01:16I was charged a certain amount and I found that the charges were not explicit.

01:25So when I asked them for details, they told me a certain blood test was done, but that

01:33blood test was not in the itemised bill.

01:36So when I asked them why, they said they will write it in handwriting.

01:41I said, when you have a computerised bill, why should you have a separate item by handwriting?

01:47They couldn't answer.

01:48I wrote to the Ministry of Health, I followed up with the Ministry of Health, but nothing

01:54came out of it.

01:55From the PAC session, I have stated the real issue, which is the cost of treatment and

02:03the cost of treatment.

02:04The cost of treatment is just for the treatment of waste.

02:08Imagine, Rp10,000 for 3 days in 2 and a half days, but we have been charged Rp10,000.

02:19I have brought this issue to the PAC to discuss and for a long-term solution.

02:26So I hope this session can provide a good solution for all parties involved.

02:35This is the first time PAC has conducted a public hearing on a matter under its examination.

02:42Following the session, PAC will continue its parliamentary proceedings, summoning witnesses

02:48from relevant ministries and agencies for further deliberations.

02:52The next PAC public hearing on the same issue is scheduled for February 21 at the Parliament Complex.

02:58Insights from these hearings will be included in the final report to be tabled in Dewan Rakyat.

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