Advantages And Disadvantages Of Public Health Care System

4. DISADVANTAGES OF PRIVATIZING THE PUBLIC HEALTH CARE SYSTEM With the current economic status, privatizing the public health care system may not be the best option. The involvement of the private sector in the provision of health service would perhaps free the government from focusing on health promotion and primary health care. However, it will certainly create unpleasant ripples, which cause effects in a number of ways. The provision of health service on public health arises from the private sector’s focus on operational policy rather than allocate efficiency. This result in inequities (Simon & Phua, 2011). In addition, private providers lack experience with vulnerable populations. Competition in the private sectors also makes the building

Government and private funding, account for 55% and 45% of total health expenditure, respectively (Ministry Of Health, 2008). The Malaysian healthcare system is well recognized internationally for providing a wide range of access to primary and promotion care, for a relatively low cost. For an example, many middle and higher income countries, healthcare services are delivered by an integration of tax-subsidized public sector and a for- profit private sector. Private gets the funds from the out-of-pocket spending (OOP), private health insurance and financing by employers while the Public gets it from Government General Revenue (Ministry Of Health, 2008). In 13 years, from 1997 to 2009, Malaysia’s total health expenditure increased at an average of 12-13% per year, higher than general inflation. There should be health financing reforms, if not Malaysia’s health spending is estimated to reach RM102bil by 2020 (Ministry of Health. 2010a). The health financing system must also be transformed by managing the nation’s health funds and control dramatic increases the healthcare costs by bringing the 1care concept to support the health service

It is a more effective way to deliver quality healthcare especially to the low and medium income population. The government is implementing steps for a comprehensive approach towards the transformation process. In order to encourage reliable and efficient healthcare system, the Ministry Of Health should include clinical practice guidelines in its prioritized list of services. A part from that, the Ministry Of Health shall actively solicit testimony and information from both the healthcare providers and public to build a consensus on clinical practice guidelines, which have been developed by the Ministry Of Health. A good primary care system with easy accessibility will be the most effective way to contain escalation of health cost. Finally, to improve the health status of population, 1Care for 1Malaysia will also promote social solidarity and equity in healthcare. Hence, this transformation of the healthcare system is vital for Malaysia to move towards its goal, that to becoming a high-income nation by