KUALA LUMPUR – With more than 78% of the Madani Medical Scheme (MMS) healthcare programme’s RM100 million budget already utilised, the nationwide initiative that was rolled out nationwide only five months ago will now revert to the initial ten districts.
Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said with the balance of RM21.3 million allocated for the initiative, the government will refocus on the ten districts that implemented the MMS pilot project.
“We are back to focusing on these ten districts, taking into account our financial sustainability. It would cost at least RM227 million to implement this countrywide.
“It would not be the most efficient use of scarce resources when seeking better health outcomes. MMS is aimed at treating common ailments such as coughs and colds. We need it to also have wellness preventive and promotive approaches to prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs), he said.
He was responding to Datuk Alias Razak (Kuala Nerus-PAS) who asked about the government’s justification for the alleged termination of the Madani Medical Scheme at private clinics and the restriction of services to only 10 select districts, despite the allocation of RM100 million.
Dzulkefly explained that the pilot project covering ten districts alone requires an expenditure of RM1.7 million per week.
“When implementing a policy, there are three vital matters: the execution capability, the health outcome, and the financial sustainability. That is where we face problems,” he said.
However, he said that the programme in private clinics will be continued.
The MMS pilot project, launched on June 15, 2023, covered ten districts, including Kuala Lumpur, Gombak, Hulu Langat, Petaling, Klang, Johor Bahru, Kinta, Timur Laut, Kota Kinabalu, and Kuching, and aimed to reduce congestion at public healthcare facilities.
Other than that, the B40 group, who are recipients of the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) assistance programme, would get medical treatment for free at private clinics registered under the scheme.
On August 8, 2023, the scheme was widened to 11 more districts: Kuala Nerus, Kuala Terengganu, Kota Bharu, Pasir Mas, Kota Setar, Kuala Muda, Seremban, Kuantan, Melaka Tengah, Perlis, and Seberang Perai Tengah.
On September 19, the scheme entered its third phase and was implemented nationwide.
However, Dzulkefly said due to the lack of financial sustainability of the initiative, which calls for further reviews, the scheme was pulled back to focus only on the first ten districts (under the pilot project) beginning February 26, 2024.
At the same time, the ministry is going to continue other initiatives to reduce congestion at public healthcare facilities, including the implementation of extended hours in selected health clinics, which would operate until 10pm. – February 29, 2024