COMMENT | Healthcare and insurance are essential services and should not be treated as ordinary businesses. This is particularly true for healthcare insurance.

The announcement of healthcare insurance premiums increasing by 40-70 percent has understandably alarmed consumers.

In response, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) introduced a series of immediate measures to ensure continued access to healthcare insurance and address rising medical costs (Interim Measures to Assist Policyholders and Promote Continued Access to Suitable Medical and Health Insurance/Takaful Products, Dec 20, 2024).

These interim measures are a positive step forward. However, they lack provisions for transparency and accountability from insurers and the regulator, BNM. Transparency and accountability are critical to fostering consumer trust.