The Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy has urged the government to treat the Public Accounts Committee’s (PAC) report on rising medical insurance premiums, private hospital charges and their impact on healthcare as a “mandate for action”.

Its chief executive officer Azrul Khalib said the 1,999-page report tabled in Parliament yesterday confirmed that Malaysia’s private healthcare market requires stronger and more specific consumer protections.

"The findings are deeply concerning but not surprising...