The proposal made by the Subsidy Rationalisation Lab (SRL) to increase the charge for outpatient treatment at public clinics and hospitals from RM1 to RM3 is important to improve the quality of health facilities in the country, said Health Minister.

"We are in the midst of coming out with comprehensive healthcare reforms in the country and we would like to further improve our delivery system because there's still a lot of congestion at government clinics and hospitals.

"The government will continue to provide a big allocation for healthcare and at the same time we want to further increase our health services, so we need more budget (through subsidy cuts)," Liow Tiong Lai told reporters after attending Wesak Day

celebrations at the Malaysian Buddist Association premises in Kuala Lumpur today.

The SRL had also proposed that the cost for in-patient treatment be doubled to RM160 for Class One wards, RM40 (Class Two) and RM6 (Class Three). Those whose household income is under RM2,160 or categorised under the Fees Act will still enjoy fee exemption.

It also proposed that from 2013, patients pay a percentage of their in-patient cost instead of the current flat rate, and from 2015, patients are to pay a percentage of their outpatient treatment and medication.

Banning postponed

Meanwhile, on the delay in banning sale of 14-stick cigarette packs supposed to take effect on Tuesday (June 1), Liow said the cabinet at its meeting on Wednesday decided to postponed it so that the ministry could conduct more studies on the effects of such a ban.

"Exemption from the ban will continue till a date to be decided but the Health Ministry has recommended that it be done as soon as possible.

The cabinet feels that we have to make further studies on the impact the ban will bring.

"We will do the studies after which the cabinet will make the necessary announcements," he said.

Cigarettes used to be sold in seven, 14, 18 and 20-stick packs in the country but sale of seven-stick packs have since been banned.

The move to add the 14-stick packs to the ban list for cigarette sales is part of the government’s initiative to limit public access to cigarettes, especially among the younger generation.

- Bernama