LOS TEROPONG

Teropong up - hmmmm, in the news (NST - 20 May) about the proposed National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme that should take off at the end of next year. And most Malaysians are required to make manditory contributions.

A consultant (from ??) was appointed to identify details under the scheme, including the quantum of payment, criteria & ceiling for contributions, collection mechanism, nature of basic health package and how the ministry will pay clinics and hospitals. Looks like it is ALL ready to go.

Ok, to cut a long story short, the news said that the scheme would provide better care, access to facilities and financial risk management in the event ill health.

Too, as for healthcare providers, there would be

• better incentives to cover the rural population,
• greater opportunities, improvement in the reimbursement system
• increased efficiency, and
  
• better use of technology

Further, the system would see greater integration, efficiency and quality, besides optimal rsource utilisation and the focus on preventive programmes.

Look, I don't mean to be a pain in the neck, but as far as terminal objectives are concerned, the goals cited mean ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!! and I mean NOTHING!

For ALL the issues cited as areas of 'improvement', what WAS lacking in the present system? WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS?? What did not work, what was not enough? What was not well supported. What are the justification to introduce the scheme?

We are very fond of doing things like this. There is no identification of real issues and problems and suddenly we want to introduce something to improve it. Huh ..? Show us something!! Show us an issue, why it exist, how and why what we have now does not work or cannot cope anymore, and why if it persist, we are going to be worse off. Show us some timeline data, some extrapolation that would make it clear of where we are going if we don't do something about it. Show us that it is costly to maintain present position and an improved system would save money in the long run. Please show us something!!

Better care? What was bad about it and WHY?? Come on people, look at the Theresa Gomez case, need I say more?

I have been trained in TQM (Total Quality Management) and there are techniques to ensure quality assurances and controls and also tools to identify the implementation mechanisms. Thsoe are basis for continuous improvement and the statistics and FACTS generated will support any further plans. We have the PDCA cycle and more mumbo-jumbo. Man, there was NOTHING presented to justify any of the wonderful things promised in the scheme.

Can the public know of the inquiry into our healthcare system? Even the MMA are urging that we improve the healthcare system BEFORE introducing the NHI, or at the very least, show us the data that show the areas the badly need attending to. We can do better than this .. we are trying to be WORLD CLASS remember?? Please laa, don't do like this. Aiyaa, tak tau lah ...