MediAsas health plan to be launched in January

KUALA LUMPUR: An affordable Medi Asas plan will be launched in January 2027, featuring standardised hospital charges based on diagnosis and treatment type to ensure medical costs are better controlled and predictable, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, when tabling Budget 2027 in the Dewan Rakyat on Friday (Oct 9), said Employees Provident Fund (EPF) members aged under 55 will be allowed to pay Medi Asas premiums using savings from their Akaun Sejahtera.

"For small and medium enterprises (SME) with fewer than 75 employees, the government will subsidise the first-year premium by RM200 per worker, capped at 50 employees per company. This is expected to benefit up to 200,000 SME workers," he said.

In addition, Anwar said electronic medical records will be expanded based on the "one individual, one record" principle to increase transparency in the country's private medical services.

"Starting 2027, private hospital bills will use standardised and transparent fee categories so patients understand every charge, thereby reducing price distortions.

"The e-CKAPS portal is also being developed to enable the licensing of private healthcare facilities to be conducted fully online starting 2027, targeting a processing time reduction of up to 65%," he said.

Meanwhile, Anwar said the government is providing health facilities to assist underprivileged citizens in obtaining medical treatment, including increasing the Medical Assistance Fund to RM60mil from RM40mil previously.

He said RM80mil has been allocated under PeKa B40 to offer free health screenings, medical equipment aid and cancer treatment incentives to Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) recipients and their spouses aged 40 and above.

Anwar said the MySalam scheme, which has benefited 1.6mil people with total claims reaching RM1.3bil since its inception, will also continue in 2027.

He said the Fertility Treatment Assistance and Infertility Advocacy (BuAI) Programme will offer affordable fertility treatment to 2,000 couples and men's wellness services to 42,000 individuals.

Anwar said free thalassaemia screening will be expanded to husbands and children of carriers to reduce the risk of major thalassaemia births.

On hospital congestion, Anwar said the allocation to outsource patients to other hospitals has been increased to RM200mil to shorten patient waiting times for medical treatment.

He said the scope of cooperation will also be expanded to include the public sector's use of private healthcare facilities, including operating theatres, while related programmes will cover Expanded Newborn Screening, Prenatal Genetic Testing and rehabilitation services.

Additionally, he said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), through an investment of RM1bil, will continue to intensify the implementation of the electronic medical record system project at healthcare facilities nationwide. – Bernama