COMMENT | Two interrelated factors will result in the private healthcare system failing in its role to provide affordable services to most Malaysians except the very rich.

They are the prohibitively high medical insurance premiums caused in turn by the unbridled rise in the cost of private hospital services.

I was shocked to see that the premiums for my medical insurance coverage this year have increased by not 10, not 20, not 30, not 40 but a mind-boggling 50 percent from my last annual payment. And I have not even crossed an age group.

For illustration, I show the rates for my...