Minister assures there's still time for talks on Peka B40

Amid concerns raised over the Peka B40 scheme, Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad has assured that there is still time for the ministry to reach an amicable solution with healthcare providers.

Dzulkefly said that the engagement process with healthcare providers is ongoing, noting that he would like their support for the healthcare programme.

“We have always been engaging even until now. We still have time to engage further on the role of pharmacists, of general practitioners, of our own facilities, clinics...

“We will continue discussions. There will still be room for discussion, not to worry,” he told a press conference in Putrajaya today.

Peka B40 is one of two major healthcare schemes – along with health insurance programme MySalam – announced in the Budget 2019 speech last year.

It allows those in the bottom 40 percent (B40) income group aged over 50 to obtain private health screening services for noncommunicable diseases at the government’s expense.

Peka B40 is fully funded by the government with a starting allocation of RM100 million, and is expected to benefit 800,000 recipients.

Among the concerns raised since the scheme was announced is engagement with private healthcare providers and the low payout amount for screening services.

In addition, some argued that the RM100 million could have been used to improve public healthcare services, rather than being channelled to the private sector.

Dzulkefly said his ministry is aiming to launch the Peka B40 scheme during the first quarter of this year, most likely in April.

'MySalam just as necessary'

Dzulkelfy also noted that the MySalam scheme is just as necessary as Peka B40, as it aims to help B40 income earners deal with the financial shock of being diagnosed with a critical illness.

However, when asked to respond to criticism that the health insurance scheme benefits a single private insurer, he declined to comment further.

“I cannot respond to that, because it is certainly under the purview of the Finance Ministry which is better placed to comment,” he said.

As part of establishing MySalam, insurer Great Eastern will pay RM2 billion through its Malaysia unit to fund the scheme for five years.

The sum is in exchange for being exempted from a Bank Negara requirement that foreign insurance firms in Malaysia must be 30 percent owned by local investors.

The scheme will provide B40 income earners aged between 18 to 55 a one-off payment of RM8,000 if they are diagnosed with one of 36 critical illnesses.

They would also be paid RM50 hospitalisation allowance per day, up to 14 days per year, in any public hospital.

The scheme kicked off on Jan 1, and recipients are supposed to be able to file claims from March.

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