PUTRAJAYA (Jan 18): The Health Ministry is still in talks with the private healthcare and insurance companies on the technical aspects of implementing the bundling concept to address the rising cost of private healthcare, said its minister Datuk Seri Dr S.Subramaniam.

Stating that the ministry had already started the initial consultations with the stakeholders, he said the implementation was still pending since there were still numerous technical aspects to overcome.

"Yes, the government is aware of high medical charges by private hospitals, and our discussion has started since last year to find a solution. The bundling method has been carried out in other countries, and the ministry is currently looking into the experiences of these countries.

"Upon reaching the agreement, our team consists of ministry and Bank Negara's officials will have to go through a legal process of making it enforceable by law,"he told reporters after delivering his New Year's message to his ministry's staff here today.

Under the bundling concept, Dr Subramaniam said the healthcare providers were paid for a single payment for all the services performed to treat patient undergoing a specific episode of care.

He said only the professional fees charged by doctors are controlled by a schedule under the ministry through the Private Healthcare Facilities Act, and the ministry could not  control fees such as food, laundry, bed, operation theatre fees and x-ray fees.

"The doctors’ fee will be within a range and cannot go beyond. If they do go beyond, then we can take action against the doctors. So, we need to reach consensus on the models from the countries and overcome the problem. It might be the easiest way to approach with bundling approach," he added.

On the ministry's proposal that mamak restaurants and hawker stalls reduce operating hours to midnight, Dr Subramaniam said it needed a multi-sector collaboration and approval through a thorough study and discussions with other authorities such as the Housing and Local Government Ministry, Tourism and Culture Ministry and Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry.

"If the idea is well received by everyone and we manage to convince the people, we can move forward and this is good. It is not a blanket ban on all restaurants or eateries but those in specific areas in order to have a healthy lifestyle.  

Last year, Dr Subramaniam was reported as saying that limiting the operating hours of restaurants and eateries was one of several measures in a new health policy the government planned to introduce this year in promoting a healthier nation and curbing the rise of non-communicable diseases.