ID :
52926
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 17:57
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/52926
The shortlink copeid
M`SIA NOT READY FOR HEALTHCARE LIBERALISATION, SAY PRIVATE DOCTORS
KUALA LUMPUR, March 30 (Bernama) -- The Federation of Private Medical
Practitioner's Association of Malaysia (FPMPAM) Monday urged the government not
be in a hurry to liberalise healthcare services in the country through the Asean
Free Trade Area (AFTA) healthcare liberalisation, which will commence next year.
FPMPAM president Dr Steven Chow said this was because the Malaysian
healthcare services sector in particular was not ready for that (liberalisation)
although the basic aspects of globalisation were inherently good and in some
ways inevitable.
He said presently there was an absence of a suitable legal and regulatory
framework to prevent the exploitation of the national healthcare market by
foreign businesses, which may be driven solely for commercial interests.
"Rushing towards liberalising the healthcare services without a proper
regulatory framework, would jeopardise the overall healthcare system in the
country," he said in a statement Monday.
He said there was a need for ASEAN to move towards harmonisation of
healthcare standards such as in the European Union (EU)) before opening up
market access but this should be done as a gradual process.
Dr Chow said without proper safeguards, the move would not answer but
exacerbate Malaysia's healthcare woes as market forces and business sense was
unlikely to encourage foreigners to start their business in small towns, where
the problem of shortage and poor access to healthcare services was more
apparent.
"But more importantly, we cannot rush this process, especially if it is for
the sake of boosting medical tourism. Healthcare is not just another business
commodity.
"The government needs to answer how it sees the liberalisation of healthcare
fitting into the larger process of healthcare reforms earmarked under the 10th
Malaysian Plan. We need to ensure that this move will benefit the people of
Malaysia and not just businesses," he said.
Dr Chow added that the framework must not compromise the quality of care and
be able to monitor the conduct of foreign doctors as well as provide an avenue
to protect patients.
The ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) was signed in 1992 to liberalise the
healthcare, air travel and electronic commerce secors by 2010.
Signatory countries include Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar.
-- BERNAMA
Practitioner's Association of Malaysia (FPMPAM) Monday urged the government not
be in a hurry to liberalise healthcare services in the country through the Asean
Free Trade Area (AFTA) healthcare liberalisation, which will commence next year.
FPMPAM president Dr Steven Chow said this was because the Malaysian
healthcare services sector in particular was not ready for that (liberalisation)
although the basic aspects of globalisation were inherently good and in some
ways inevitable.
He said presently there was an absence of a suitable legal and regulatory
framework to prevent the exploitation of the national healthcare market by
foreign businesses, which may be driven solely for commercial interests.
"Rushing towards liberalising the healthcare services without a proper
regulatory framework, would jeopardise the overall healthcare system in the
country," he said in a statement Monday.
He said there was a need for ASEAN to move towards harmonisation of
healthcare standards such as in the European Union (EU)) before opening up
market access but this should be done as a gradual process.
Dr Chow said without proper safeguards, the move would not answer but
exacerbate Malaysia's healthcare woes as market forces and business sense was
unlikely to encourage foreigners to start their business in small towns, where
the problem of shortage and poor access to healthcare services was more
apparent.
"But more importantly, we cannot rush this process, especially if it is for
the sake of boosting medical tourism. Healthcare is not just another business
commodity.
"The government needs to answer how it sees the liberalisation of healthcare
fitting into the larger process of healthcare reforms earmarked under the 10th
Malaysian Plan. We need to ensure that this move will benefit the people of
Malaysia and not just businesses," he said.
Dr Chow added that the framework must not compromise the quality of care and
be able to monitor the conduct of foreign doctors as well as provide an avenue
to protect patients.
The ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) was signed in 1992 to liberalise the
healthcare, air travel and electronic commerce secors by 2010.
Signatory countries include Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar.
-- BERNAMA
