NETIZENS have slammed the Government’s plan to review its “unsustainable” public healthcare outpatient and specialist care fees of RM1 and RM5, respectively.
This comes after Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin told Parliament that Government expenditure on health increased 190% over the last 14 years from RM12.6 bil in 2006 to RM36.6 bil in 2021.
“The Government is aware that the existing public health financing model is not sustainable and will add pressure to the burdens of the Government’s coffers,” Khairy told the Dewan Rakyat last month.
“As such, the Government is studying various future-proof health financing options to strengthen the country’s health care system as a whole so that health services are more equitable, have high standards, are easily accessible at a reasonable cost and are sustainable in the long run.”
Netizens, however, were not impressed and called on the Government to maintain the fees as they stand.
“Look in the mirror first”
Twitter user @attyusof pointed out: “You know what is unsustainable? An oversized Cabinet,” she said, referring to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s oft-criticised line-up of 32 ministers.
Echoing her, user @jigleepaff said cutting RM30,000 from the salaries of every minister and the 38 deputy ministers would amount to RM2.1 mil monthly.
“Imagine how much that does for low-income families,” he said.
Others commented:
Some pointed out that healthcare was a right and not a luxury, and raised concerns about the impact any increase in fees would have on public healthcare:
Others bemoaned the ongoing removal of subsidies by the Government:
Some raised concerns about corruption:
Those who were “okay” with the Health Ministry’s plans to review the fees made other demands as well:
The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has since lauded the move, saying the increase, albeit minimal, will add to the budget needed for public healthcare spending. – Aug 6, 2022
Pic credit: Bernama
