By Doreen Ling
KUCHING, July 13: Shifting from sick care to preventive healthcare and the reform of medical health insurance through greater transparency and accountability were among the key strategies proposed to address medical inflation and improve affordability while maintaining high-quality patient care.
According to Society of Private Medical Practitioners Sarawak (SPMPS) president Dr Liew Shan Fap, Malaysia must shift its healthcare strategy from a predominantly curative model to one that prioritises preventive healthcare.
“Primary care doctors should emphasise regular health screening, particularly for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular disease, and chronic kidney disease.
“Early detection allows these conditions to be treated more effectively with lower costs before serious complications such as renal failure, heart failure, stroke, and blindness develop, which is more complicated and costly to manage,” he said at the 52nd Anniversary Dinner in a hotel here on Saturday (July 11), which was attended by Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng who represented Deputy Premier and Minister for Public Health, Housing, and Local Government Sarawak Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.
Dr Liew noted that the same principle applies to cancer, as early detection offers a higher chance of cure, often with simpler and less expensive treatment.
As for medical health insurance, he said that Bank Negara Malaysia should take a more proactive role in regulating the health insurance industry by improving transparency in medical claims processing, issuance of guarantee letters, and reimbursement practices.
“Health insurers should be required to disclose key performance indicators, including their Medical Loss Ratio (MLR), whereby a minimum of approximately 85 per cent should be considered, ensuring that the majority of premium income is directed towards patient care rather than administrative expenses or excessive profits,” he said.
At the same time, Dr Liew said using high-quality generic medicines where appropriate could significantly reduce pharmaceutical costs without compromising treatment quality or patient safety, adding that solo private clinics should be encouraged to form purchasing networks, clinic clusters or chain clinics to leverage economies of scale.
“Collective procurement of medicines, vaccines, medical consumables, and equipment can significantly lower operating costs, allowing savings to be passed on to patients while improving the sustainability of primary care practices,” he said.
He also called for the promotion of value-based healthcare, whereby healthcare providers are responsible for ensuring that resources are utilised wisely.
“Clinicians should practise value-based healthcare by ordering investigations, prescribing treatments, and performing procedures based on clear clinical indications and evidence-based guidelines.
“Avoiding unnecessary investigations, over-treatment, and low-value interventions not only reduces healthcare costs but also protects patients from unnecessary risks. Delivering the right treatment to the right patient at the right time should remain the fundamental principle of high-quality and cost-effective healthcare,” he said.
According to a report from The Sun, in 2025, Malaysia’s medical inflation was reported at 15 per cent, compared with an Asia-Pacific average of 11.1 per cent and a global average of 10 per cent.
Citing a report from Bank Negara Malaysia, hospital supplies and service charges make up a significant portion of total medical charges for both non-surgical and surgical treatments.
It noted that as doctors’ fees are regulated, other private healthcare charges remain less controlled, creating concerns over transparency and affordability.
The report also highlighted differences in charges between insured patients and those paying directly, using data from surveys that found that insured patients using guarantee letters were charged substantially higher amounts for certain treatments compared with patients who paid upfront. — DayakDaily
