Latest news with #Kuljit
New Straits Times
12 hours ago
- Health
- New Straits Times
Private hospitals back EPF plan for insurance payments, call for safeguards
KUALA LUMPUR: The Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM) has hailed the government's timely proposal to allow Employees Provident Fund (EPF) members to use their Account 2 savings to pay for monthly health insurance premiums. Its president, Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh, said while the plan is welcomed, it must be accompanied by clear safeguards to ensure its long-term sustainability. He said the responsibility now lies with the relevant agencies to determine the most appropriate funding model, whether through EPF or other mechanisms. "APHM fully supports the development of well-designed, evidence-based and data-driven policies, including the proposed basic MHIT (Medical and Health Insurance/Takaful) product. "Key stakeholders such as Bank Negara Malaysia, the Health Ministry, and the Finance Ministry will play pivotal roles in determining the best approach moving forward. "What matters most is that the mechanism serves the people effectively and remains financially viable in the long term," he told the NST. Dr Kuljit said APHM remains committed to working with all stakeholders to address challenges in healthcare financing and the rising cost of treatment. "Our member hospitals are ready to share data, insights, and industry expertise with the government to support policies that are both sustainable and beneficial to all Malaysians," he said. The government proposed the EPF plan to ease healthcare costs, widen insurance access, and relieve pressure on public hospitals. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said yesterday that if the proposal is implemented, 16 million EPF contributors could use their savings to access medical care at private hospitals.
The Star
10-06-2025
- Health
- The Star
Long, winding road towards DRG payment model rollout
KUALA LUMPUR: A proper rollout of the diagnosis-related group (DRG) payment model could take more than six months, given the complexities in data gathering and analysis, said Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM) president Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh. He said that for any DRG or any DRG-type mechanism to work, accurate clinical data and a national electronic health record system are needed. Presently, this foundational data is not yet available, which presents significant challenges for timely and effective DRG implementation, he added. 'As the process of gathering and analysing such data is complex and time-consuming, APHM anticipates that a proper rollout will require considerably more than six months,' said Dr Kuljit. He also said the APHM is heartened to hear Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad's announcement at the APHM International Healthcare Conference and Exhibition 2025 that a basic medical and health insurance/takaful (MHIT) product will be introduced later this year, while the DRG will be rolled out in phases. To support this national initiative, Dr Kuljit said APHM member hospitals have offered to share relevant clinical data required for the set-up of a DRG system with the Health Ministry and the Finance Ministry. 'APHM strongly advocates that adequate time and resources be allocated to ensure that the DRG initiative is thoroughly conceptualised, piloted and implemented to ultimately deliver sustainable improvements for all Malaysians,' added Dr Kuljit. Earlier, Dzulkefly said introducing DRGs to pay for healthcare services, in phases, beginning with MHIT products, will be a key driver for value-based healthcare.
The Star
09-06-2025
- Health
- The Star
Proper DRG roll out can take more than six months, says private hospitals association
KUALA LUMPUR: A proper rollout of the diagnosis-related group (DRG) payment model could take more than six months given the complexities in data gathering and analysis, says the Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM), adding that it is ready to provide any help. Its president Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh said accurate clinical data and a national electronic health record system is needed for any DRG-type mechanism to work He said this foundational data is not available yet. "As the process of gathering and analysing such data is complex and time-consuming, APHM anticipates that a proper rollout will require considerably more than six months," he said. Dr Kuljit also said the APHM welcomed Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad's announcement that a basic medical and health insurance/takaful product would be introduced later this year and the DRG rolled out in phases. To support this national initiative, Dr Kuljit said APHM member hospitals have offered to share relevant clinical data with the Health Ministry and the Finance Ministry. "APHM strongly advocates that adequate time and resources are allocated to ensure that the DRG initiative is thoroughly conceptualised, piloted and implemented, to ultimately deliver sustainable improvements for all Malaysians," he said. The DRG payment system involves paying a fixed sum based on the diagnosis and treatment provided, rather than itemising each charge. It is said the DTG model can help regulate medical costs by limiting excessive charges. Examples of countries that have implemented this are Sweden, Canada and Australia. Earlier, in his opening speech, Dr Dzulkefly said introducing DRG in phases to pay for healthcare services, beginning with the base medical and health insurance/takaful products, would be a key driver for value-based healthcare. He also said the Health Ministry is hoping to introduce the DRG payment model by the end of 2025.
The Star
03-06-2025
- Health
- The Star
M'sia leads medical tourism charge
PETALING JAYA: From the Maldives to mainland China, foreigners are drawn to the world-class healthcare offered by private hospitals in the country, says Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia president Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh (pic). Apart from being cost-effective, these foreign patients were keen on the transparent healthcare plans offered by Malaysian private hospitals, he said. Another plus factor for them was the ease of communication as English is widely spoken, he said in an interview. Last Wednesday, the Health Ministry announced that Malaysia has been ranked as the top destination for medical tourism based on quality, infrastructure, cost-effectiveness and ease of access by Nomad Capitalist, a Dubai-based wealth consultancy firm. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said in a Facebook post that Malaysia's medical tourism sector generated about RM2bil in revenue in 2023, with 1.3 million foreigners seeking treatment in the country. Dr Kuljit told The Star that foreign nationalities who sought treatment are mainly from Indonesia, China, Bangladesh and the Maldives. The rest are from Europe and the United States. 'We are way more affordable compared to our neighbouring countries and far cheaper than western countries,' he said, estimating that foreign patients seeking treatment in Malaysia would be paying 20% to 50% lower than elsewhere. 'For those from the US, the savings could be up to 70% compared to what they would need to fork out in their own country.' He said foreign patients seek a variety of treatments ranging from simple health screening to sophisticated interventions. Dr Kuljit said that being a predominantly Muslim country was also advantageous as it was a plus point for Muslim patients. 'Another factor that has earned the trust and confidence of international patients are Malaysia's strict healthcare standards and accreditation with global medical bodies. 'They are treated with care and only discharged when they are fit to leave the facility,' he added. However, while medical care is seamlessly rendered, Dr Kuljit acknowledged that the biggest challenge private hospitals face is inadequate capacity for inpatients. 'A shortage of manpower such as nurses is an issue,' he said. Furthermore, he said restrictions and conditions imposed on private hospitals that curtail healthcare costs can prove to be a hindrance to the growth of medical tourism. But in the long term, he said Malaysia's future as a medical tourism hub remains bright as the projected number of patients exceeds targets annually. 'I am confident that Malaysia's reputation as one of the leading medical tourism destinations in the world will only continue to grow in leaps and bounds as private hospitals in Malaysia remain committed to delivering reliable, world-class care to Malaysians first and foremost and to the rest of the world,' he added. Dr Kuljit said Malaysians no longer need to travel abroad in search of premium healthcare. 'However, these advantages are sometimes overlooked by Malaysians and lead to a misunderstanding of the role of private hospitals. There is a mistaken notion that the services offered are medical tourism-oriented and solely driven by profit,' he said. He explained that private hospitals strive to improve continuously to meet world-class standards that benefit both the local population and medical tourists. Asked if private hospitals would extend their services to low-income Malaysians as part of their corporate social responsibility since they have earned revenue from medical tourism, he said such initiatives will be further enhanced if private hospitals managed to increase capacity. 'We are happy to work with the public healthcare system and conduct such programmes but we need to have greater capacity and manpower,' he said.
The Star
07-05-2025
- Health
- The Star
Increase training capacity to resolve shortage, say experts
PETALING JAYA: Authorities must act decisively by expanding specialist training programmes and offering better incentives to address the ongoing shortage of medical professionals, experts say. Malaysian Association for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery honorary secretary Prof Dr John Chan Kok Meng said specialist training was previously confined to universities through their Masters programmes. 'However, the universities and university teaching hospitals have limited capacity. 'The amendment to the Medical Act 1971 last year now permits the Health Ministry to offer specialist training in its hospitals via a parallel pathway, significantly increasing the country's training capacity,' he said yesterday. Despite this progress, Dr Chan expressed concern that the amended Medical Act has yet to be enforced, highlighting the urgency of its implementation. 'Until last year, the criteria for specialist registration were also very restrictive. In cardiothoracic surgery, for example, only four qualifications were recognised – one each from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. 'Without one of these qualifications, practising as a specialist in cardiothoracic surgery in Malaysia was impossible,' he said. Fortunately, the amendment to the Medical Act 1971 has expanded this list. 'Now, eight qualifications in cardiothoracic surgery are recognised. 'More importantly, the Malaysian Medical Council can now recognise specialists trained elsewhere, providing flexibility in registering specialists and moving beyond the previous restrictive list,' Dr Chan added. Private Hospitals Malaysia Association president Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh said private hospitals experience varied demands for specialists, influenced by location and the type of specialities offered. 'Some private hospitals are multi-discipline, while others are more general, affecting their staffing needs. 'By law, hospitals must have at least one full-time specialist to offer specific services,' he explained. This requirement can lead to shortages if hospitals aim to expand their services. Dr Kuljit said, unlike private hospitals, the government was obligated to provide comprehensive healthcare services and is more acutely aware of areas with specialist shortages. To fulfil the demand for medical specialists in the government sector, he suggested intensifying and refining specialisation programmes. Additionally, Dr Kuljit proposed offering incentives to entice Malaysian specialists working abroad to return home and contribute to the healthcare system.
