MediAsas board set up ahead of medical insurance plan's January rollout

KUALA LUMPUR: The Joint Ministerial Committee on Private Healthcare Costs (JBMKKS) has formed an independent board to provide strategic leadership, oversight and monitoring of the MediAsas plan ahead of its nationwide rollout at the end of January 2027.

The MediAsas board will oversee key aspects of the basic medical insuranace and takaful plan including its implementation, administration and performance.

It will also safeguard public interest, support its long-term sustainability and advance private healthcare reforms.

The board will be chaired by Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Norma Mansor and comprises Professor Dr Elil Renganathan, Datuk Hamidah Naziadin, Ivan Loh Ee Hoe, Serena Thio Hui Ming and Professor Dr Woo Yin Ling.

The members bring expertise in public policy, healthcare, insurance and takaful, hospital operations, human resources and business management.

The board will also include ex-officio representatives from the Health Ministry, Finance Ministry and Bank Negara Malaysia.

Its secretariat, the MediAsas Office, will be operated by ProtectHealth Corporation, said the Finance Ministry and Health Ministry in a joint statement today.

Global health policy expert Dr Winnie Yip and former Bank Negara deputy governor Datuk Jessica Chew will support the board as expert and technical advisers respectively.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the reforms must ultimately deliver better outcomes for patients.

"Our healthcare reforms must ultimately deliver better outcomes for patients.

"The board will play an important role in ensuring MediAsas remains anchored on this purpose, by bringing together healthcare and industry perspectives to manage healthcare costs more effectively, keep protection accessible and support better care for patients over the long term," he said.

Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said the board will provide stronger foundations as MediAsas moves from its pilot phase towards nationwide implementation.

"The independent board will provide strategic oversight of its implementation and performance, safeguard the public interest and help ensure the plan remains sustainable over the long term," he said.

JBMKKS said reforms under its RESET Strategy would continue, including a standardised private hospital billing framework aimed at improving transparency and comparability of common charges.

The 2027 Budget measures will also support wider access to medical coverage, including tax relief for eligible premiums and contributions.

A total of RM40 million has been allocated to encourage coverage among employees of SMEs with fewer than 75 workers.