The Ministry of Health today urged health insurance policyholders who had been charged higher rates compared with non-policyholders by private clinics to come forward and file their complaints with the ministry.

 Its minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said this would enable the authorities to investigate the matter.

“The ministry views the issue seriously and they can file their complaints either with us or the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca),” he told a news conference after officiating a Kampungku Sihat (My Healthy Village) programme in Kuching.

Dzulkefly said the public could also file their complaints via e-mail at: [email protected]

Firm action would be taken against clinics that were found to be involved in such practices, he added.

Today, local media reported that private clinics have been imposing additional charges of up to 10 percent on health insurance policyholders while medication prices were almost 90 percent higher compared with those without insurance. - Bernama