KUALA LUMPUR – The Ministerial Joint Committee on Private Healthcare Costs (JBMKKS) has expressed support for the Public Accounts Committee’s (PAC) recommendations aimed at addressing rising insurance premiums and private hospital charges, saying they are consistent with the government’s broader healthcare reform agenda.
In a statement on Thursday, the committee said the PAC’s proposals “are generally aligned with the direction of the Reset Strategy and reinforce the need to accelerate reform implementation.”
It added that all recommendations will be reviewed and considered to further strengthen and expedite ongoing reforms.
Co-chaired by Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan and Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, the committee acknowledged the urgency of tackling escalating healthcare costs to ensure the long-term sustainability of the country’s healthcare system.
“Since the launch of the Reset Strategy, JBMKKS has led coordinated efforts across the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health, Bank Negara Malaysia, and key stakeholders in the healthcare and insurance ecosystem,” the statement read.
Among the key initiatives under way is the Malaysia Health Insurance and Takaful (MHIT) baseline plan, which is expected to begin its pilot phase by the end of July.
The committee said additional reforms are also being implemented progressively, including the introduction of the Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG) system as a healthcare payment mechanism, improved price transparency measures, enhanced data standards, and stronger dispute resolution frameworks.
It said these efforts reflect the “strong commitment and close collaboration between policymakers, regulators, payers, and healthcare providers in advancing healthcare sector reform in the country.”
JBMKKS reiterated its commitment to keeping the Reset Strategy on track and ensuring it delivers measurable outcomes for the public.
“The primary objective of this initiative is to make private healthcare services more transparent, more affordable and more sustainable for the benefit of all Malaysians,” the statement said.
The committee added that it will continue monitoring implementation closely and is expected to provide further updates after its next meeting in July. – June 26, 2026