The Malaysian Cabinet has agreed to increase the cost for non-citizens seeking treatment at government hospitals and clinics to 100 per cent in three phases from January next year. The existing rates imposed on them will be increased by 30 per cent next year, another 30 per cent in 2016 and 40 per cent in 2017.
Making the announcement when winding up the debate on the Supply Bill 2015 for his ministry in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, Health Minister S Subramaniam said this meant non-citizens would be paying double the charges they are paying now, from 2017. Currently non-citizens including workers and students enjoy subsidised rates of between 30 and 40 per cent.
Prior to this, the government was reported to be planning to increase the rates for non-citizens. The new move will help the government to save up to RM100 million (about S$39 million) annually which can be channelled to improve the quality of health and medical services in the country.
Meanwhile, Dr Subramaniam said the country was facing it worst dengue threat in its history now and needed the cooperation of all quarters especially the local authorities to check its spread.
It has been reported that there were 153 fatalities due to dengue from January to October this year as compared to 55 fatalities in the same period last year. The number of dengue cases reported in that period this year was 80,578 cases as compared to only 25,119 cases in the corresponding period last year.
- BERNAMA
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