KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 — Malaysia should set up a national taskforce to investigate insurance companies’ alleged interference with specialist doctors’ clinical decisions on patients’ medical treatment, PKR‘s Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin said today.
Sim cited health news portal CodeBlue‘s recent survey of 855 specialists in private hospitals nationwide, where doctors reportedly shared how their patients had suffered or faced delayed treatment due to insurers delaying or rejecting healthcare coverage.
“Most of these patients had bought the policies when they were young and paid the premiums faithfully. But when they needed protection the most, insurance failed to protect them.
“Enough is enough. Insurance companies which interfered in medical matters, rejected or delayed guarantee letters, and retracted approval for treatment may have broken the law, because the Health Ministry has issued a statement,” he said while debating the proposed Budget 2026 in the Dewan Rakyat.
He added that the Health Ministry takes seriously any practice that may compromise clinical independence or patient safety in private healthcare settings, and has reminded all that Sections 82 and 83 of the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act clearly protect clinical decision-making from undue influence.
“Our patients are innocent; no one wants to fall ill or have accidents. But when they face giant insurance companies with legal teams, they are unable to defend themselves. Many stay silent, fearful, and give up,” Sim said.
“We MPs here should uphold justice for them. Since last year, I have raised the issue of insurance premium hikes and various public complaints regarding their policies.
“Therefore, I urge the Health Ministry, Bank Negara Malaysia, and the police to set up a national taskforce to investigate all cases reported by CodeBlue. They should call in the specialists as witnesses to provide testimony.
“I also wish to call on the government to establish an independent body, namely a Private Healthcare Commission, to regulate problems faced in the private healthcare sector,” he said.
While noting the government has already set up a ministerial-level joint committee on healthcare costs, he said this committee was temporary in nature and a healthcare commission could address deeper structural issues.
