Malaysia Public Hospitals - Increase in Ward Charges in 2017

The Health Ministry will increase its charges for first class and second class wards starting next year, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam.
 

According to Dr Subramaniam, of the total two million inpatients, 32,000 patients were in the first and second class wards.


Upon hospitalisation, patients are initially placed in third class wards and if they do not request to be moved into the upper classes, they will not be charged any extra fee.

The increase in charges for first and second class wards at public hospitals will not burden patients, said its Director General, Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah. This was because those who asked to be warded there could either afford it or have insurance or guarantee letters from their employers.

“Presently, the charges for first class ward are very low and this is without the cost involved during treatment. For example, the current charge for first class ward is between RM 30 and RM 80 a day compared to private hospitals which charge between RM 100 and RM 400 a day,” he said.

Other charges, he added, such as laboratory tests, checks and operations for those admitted in the first class ward at public hospitals were also much lower compared to private hospitals.

Noor Hisham gave the example of maternity treatment, which would only cost RM 300 at a first class ward in public hospitals compared to RM 3,000 in private hospitals.

If the maternity treatment invol­ved the use of forceps, vacuum or breech procedures and caesarean operation, he said this would only cost between RM 400 and RM 800. The same treatment at private hospitals would cost between RM 4,000 and RM 15,000.

The Government also exempted senior citizens from outpatient charges and gave a 50% charge reduction if they were warded, adding up to a maximum payment of only RM 250, he said.

Others, such as those with disabilities, financial aid recipients, students, organ and blood donors were also given exemptions, said Noor Hisham.

Beds for first and second class wards, he said, were also limited, with only 2,271 beds for first class and 3,251 beds for second class out of the total 40,748 beds in public hospitals.

“As such, those who choose first class are those who can afford it. The increase in charges for first and second class wards is very minimal,” he said.

The maximum charge for patients admitted in third class was only RM 500, pointed out Noor Hisham.

“Those who cannot afford to pay may also be given exemption,” he said.

/theSTAR 16-11-2016

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