Health minister: Madani Medical Scheme for B40 will run out of funds next month, in need of review
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 29 — The Madani Medical Scheme must be reviewed as it is on track to exhaust its full-year funding next month, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad said today.
He said the scheme has already utilised RM78.73 million of its RM100 million allocation as of today.
“The remaining amount is supposed to last for the entire year; however, it is estimated to finish by April,” Dzulkefly told the Parliament during the Minister’s Question Time today.
The government launched the Madani Medical Scheme to allow the B40 group to seek minor treatment at private clinics near them, with coverage automatically extended to registered recipients of the Rahmah Cash Aid scheme.
He was responding to PAS’s Kuala Nerus MP Datuk Alias Razak who asked the government to justify the alleged termination of the Madani Medical Scheme at private clinics and limiting the service to 10 chosen districts when RM100 million was allocated for this initiative.
Dzulkefly clarified that the Madani Medical Scheme will continue with private clinics, saying that rumours of its termination was a result of confusion.
He said the need for a review was based on past expenses and future projections, with his ministry concluding that it would cost RM1.7 million weekly just to treat common ailments such as coughs and colds in the present scope.
The minister then said it would cost at least RM227 million for a countrywide rollout, suggesting that this would not be the most efficient use of scarce resources when seeking better health outcomes.
“When making a policy, there are three important things: our ability to implement the scheme through private clinics, health outcomes, and the financial sustainability, which is a problem we are currently facing,” he said.
On February 27, Bernama reported that the Madani Medical Scheme will be refined to focus on specific districts and beneficiaries to increase its effectiveness and sustainability as well as to maximise its impact.
Protect Health Corporation Sdn Bhd (ProtectHealth), a wholly-owned subsidiary of ProtectHealth Malaysia, established under the Health Ministry reportedly said in a statement that the implementation areas will only be focused on 10 designated districts, including the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Gombak, Hulu Langat, Petaling Jaya and Klang in Selangor.
