The growing burden posed by cancer in the country must be looked into, and this includes the need to address the issue of poor insurance literacy among Malaysians.
Breast Cancer Welfare Association (BCWA) secretary Liew Swee Lee said many were still unaware of the need to have a comprehensive medical insurance plan, including critical illness protection, to ensure those diagnosed with cancer were able to get the best treatment possible.
“There is a need to focus on financial planning, as a cancer diagnosis changes everything, including one’s finances,” said Liew.
According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2019, only 22 per cent of the population had personal health insurance coverage. The survey added that 36 per cent of the uninsured population believed that such coverage was not necessary, while 43 per cent of the population was unable to afford the coverage.
“Cancer treatment involves a lot of money. It’s not just about chemotherapy and radiation treatment. There can be relapses, and patients may require lifelong medication,” she said.
“We have spoken to cancer patients and many are unaware of the need to review their insurance policies from time to time. No one also talks about critical illness protection during the recovery period, if you cannot work, or if you quit your job after being diagnosed with cancer,” said Liew.
“It all boils down to planning for the type of medical coverage that you want,” she said, adding that BCWA had embarked on a financial literacy programme beginning late last year.
She said through its advocacy and outreach programmes, BCWA has also learnt that many patients were unaware of the types of policies that they had signed up for, and that they cannot claim for, or get the best cancer treatment, as their insurance coverage was insufficient.
“A lot of people also think that their company insurance alone is sufficient. While a company insurance coverage policy is a good starting point, we must understand that companies only offer protection for as long as one is an employee, and that the coverage is only a basic coverage, for limited types of treatment.
“You have to sometimes fork out money out of your own pocket, to supplement the cost of treatment,” she said.
In the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, Datuk Seri Salim Sharim (BN-Jempol) had asked Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin why drugs to treat cancer and leukaemia were so expensive, with some medications costing RM13,000 and RM21,000 per month.
Salim said these drugs were not available in government hospitals and patients would have to buy them outside (from private hospitals).
He added that at those prices, patients would not be able to afford to treat their illnesses.
Salim asked what the government’s strategy was to control the prices of such medications.
In response, Khairy said there were many factors to consider when it comes to the cost of drugs. They included supply costs and the cost of the ingredients.
Khairy added the ministry was scrutinising the prices of drugs and will uphold price transparency – where pharmaceutical companies must provide the government with a comprehensive list of drugs and their prices, including drugs for cancer.
Liew said the public should realise that there were also limitations in the public healthcare system for cancer treatment.
“The government cannot supply and provide everything to patients, as there are limitations. While the government can provide primary treatment, if you want better drugs, you inevitably have to pay.
“I remember the case of an elderly cancer patient seeking treatment at a government hospital, who, after being offered primary treatment, asked if she could have another chance at treatment.
“However, the patient was informed that there were policies in place, and that such opportunities are only offered to younger cancer patients,” she added.