Friday 29 Mar 2024
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KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 1): The Ministry of Health (MOH) should consider setting up regional health authorities that will focus on catering to the needs of people within the respective area, said former Director-General of Health, Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican.

"This is something I have been thinking for the past 15 years... restructuring of the Ministry of Health and creation of regional health authorities, after establishing a national healthcare financing authority," he said at a healthcare forum organised by Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy here today.

Ismail stressed that what was first needed were healthcare reforms which include improving hospital services and access to healthcare financing.

"I feel that once we have introduced reforms, we need to consider restructuring the MOH and create Area Health Authorities (AHA), which are autonomous healthcare delivery bodies that will take care of people in their respective regions.

"Guided of course by the policies, safeguards and direction of the Ministry, they will be given funding under an authority formed within the MOH based on a certain formula and it's up to them to manage this fund responsibly without compromising or short-changing the needs of the people they are responsible for," he said.

Ismail said he felt this proposal was necessary to be implemented in order to cut down unnecessary travels between states for hospital visits and to make the process of healthcare delivery more swift and efficient.

"AHA should also manage their own people meaning that if a person gets a heart attack in Penang, [he] should not go to Institute Jantung Negara (IJN). He should go to Penang hospital or any related facility there for example. Unless they cannot do the procedures that are required, then he can go to IJN. [Patients] should be managed at the cardiac centres within the authority," he explained.

He added that AHA would also need to manage its own fund management and raise money independently.

"Sometimes you run out of cash. You cannot tell the NHA (National Health Authorities) that you need more money. You have to have your own initiative to raise funding and make sure that healthcare there is sustainable. If the AHA is not performing, then they should change the head. Make sure they get someone that can perform. So you can manage the people better in the region, with better utilisation of resources both in the public and private sector," he said.

He proposed for the creation of AHA in six regional areas namely in the North, South, East, West of the peninsula, as well as Sabah and Sarawak.

"So what would the MOH do then? They would have a smaller role, an oversight role that needs to be restructured, and they will focus on bigger issues like policy, standards, regulation, enforcement, public health, research, training and healthcare financing," Ismail said.

Asked whether he had been in contact with the new government regarding his proposal, he responded, "Not yet, I plan to see the new Minister soon."

As for his comment on the voluntary health insurance, Ismail suggested that it should instead be mandatory.

"I have been trying to get some information on voluntary health insurance. But whenever we want to get information, they (officials) say it's work in progress and it's not ready. My feeling is that there's not much stakeholder engagement. To be honest, if you want to have insurance, it shouldn't be voluntary. You should just grit your teeth and tell people to start paying a certain premium (except those who can't afford) for healthcare," he told reporters on the sidelines of the forum.

As to what an ideal rate for the premium should be, he declined to comment, but said the rates should be minimum and affordable.

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