PETALING JAYA - Bayan Baru Member of Parliament Sim Tze Tzin has urged the establishment of a regulatory body to oversee the escalating charges of private hospitals in Malaysia, asserting that the absence of a central authority has led to unchecked practices in the private healthcare sector.
Speaking at a forum titled "Healthcare for Whom?: The Implications of Rising Private Hospital Charges on the National Healthcare System", Sim highlighted the urgent need for oversight in private healthcare, emphasising that no single authority currently regulates private hospitals comprehensively.
"As a member of parliament, we are pushing for a regulatory body to regulate private hospitals. Right now, they (private hospitals) can do anything they want, and no one is stepping in to investigate or control. This needs to be rectified," he said during a press conference at Universiti Malaya here today.
Sim proposed involving the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) as an initial step to ensure transparency and inclusivity in the regulatory process.
"The PAC will call all stakeholders. We have to be fair; they will summon private healthcare insurance companies, associations from different groups, and even representatives from the people to provide explanations," he said.
He assured that the proceedings would be open to public scrutiny to develop a balanced system benefiting all parties involved.
Acknowledging the role of private hospitals in contributing to the nation’s healthcare landscape, Sim stressed the need for a balanced system that prioritises public welfare over excessive profit motives.
"We don’t want to blame anyone. As I said earlier, all parties have their roles. Private hospitals play an important role that brings benefits to the country.
"We hope to achieve a fair system moving forward. Private hospitals can earn profits, but not excessive profit-tearing. This is the objective we aim to achieve," he said.
Sim also called on the Health Ministry to ensure that its decisions prioritise fairness rather than being driven solely by profit considerations.
Sim acknowledged the complexity of the issue, noting that the regulatory process would take time but assured efforts to expedite it.
"This is a very complex issue, but I will try to speed things up," he said, adding that discussions are expected to begin in the next parliamentary session in March.
The call for regulation comes amid growing concerns about the affordability and accessibility of healthcare services in private hospitals, which many Malaysians rely on for specialised treatments.
The forum, attended by healthcare professionals, academics and policymakers, highlighted the urgent need to address rising healthcare costs and their implications on Malaysia’s national healthcare system.