The government has given a brief summary of the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the consultant working on the scheme, as requested by the Coalition Against Healthcare Privatisation.

The Health Ministry's three-page reply comes one week after minister Dr Chua Soi Lek denied knowledge of the TOR on Feb 15.

The letter signed by the ministry's planning and development director Dr Rosnah Hadis outlined a nine-point list of what the consultant is required to cover to flesh out the national healthcare financing framework.

Among others, it covers identifying funding and payment mechanism, the healthcare benefit package which forms the core of the scheme and planning for public outreach.

Thanking the coalition for its concerns, the ministry said the TOR has been "carefully prepared after getting the views of various parties" including the EPU.

A copy of the letter was obtained by malaysiakini .

On Dec 14, the coalition of over 80 civil society organisations wrote in for a copy of the TOR, to name the consultant and appointment details.

Similar requests were sent to the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The EPU denied the request in early February citing secrecy laws.

Donor's bias?

The UNDP in an e-mail today denied receiving the coalition's letter and asked malaysiakini to direct related questions to the EPU and the ministry who have agreed to handle the media on this.

Ministry officials could not be reached today on the identity of the government-appointed consultant and details of the proposed scheme, kept under a tight lid, remains sketchy at best.

At a public consultation in December, questions were raised over who will manage and control the scheme given the UNDP's role in funding the consultant which will advise on its implementation.

There is worry that the potential bias of the donor agency toward privatisation will be reflected through the funding arrangement, the appointment of the consultant and plans to consult the public.

An estimated two million Malaysians comprising civil servants, senior citizens, hardcore poor and the disabled will reportedly be exempted from paying into the financing scheme.

Contacted today, coalition secretary Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj (right) said they were very happy with the reply.

Honesty and truth

He said that at least now, the public was getting some information on the scheme which was first mooted two decades ago.

"What we find difficult to understand is the contradicting statements by the ministry. The ministry must have clarity, consistency and get the facts right.

"When a director-general or minister speaks, people believe them but when they are questioned, they claim to be misquoted by the media."

Jeyakumar also described Chua's remarks blaming "some quarters and opposition parties" for politicising the proposed scheme as a "cop-out".

"The government must consider civil society as a partner in policy-making and implementation, with rights and legitimate reasons to get the facts honestly.

"Only then can there be a meaningful dialogue among the stakeholders."

He hoped the ministry will elaborate further on its brief summary on the TOR given the far-reaching consequences of policies pertaining to healthcare.

"We still need more details and people should be given enough time for discussion as this is such a big and important issue.

Any changes the government makes, he added, could become irreversible where it may later take on a life of its own.