Better data vital for affordable healthcare: Experts
KUALA LUMPUR: Having the right data is crucial to ease the rollout of diagnosis-related groups (DRG) system and make quality healthcare accessible to the public, said industry experts.
Experts emphasize the vital role of accurate data in facilitating the implementation of the diagnosis-related groups (DRG) system and enhancing the accessibility of quality healthcare for the public. Saravanan Desigamanie, KPJ Healthcare Bhd chief risk and sustainability officer, highlighted that the healthcare industry possesses data dating back four decades.
He stated that the organization is collaborating with the government to ensure proper data sharing, which will facilitate the ease of DRG implementation. DRG, a payment model based on diagnosis, charges patients a fixed fee and aims to make healthcare more equitable. KPJ Healthcare Bhd operates a diverse range of hospitals, from flagship and premier facilities to community hospitals, necessitating comprehensive data on procedures, patient categories, and charges.
This data is essential for categorizing patients and determining charges. Accurate coding and billing are crucial for the success of DRG implementation, especially in private healthcare. Pharmaniaga Bhd's chief operating officer, Ahmad Shahredzuan Mohd Shariff, emphasized that DRG enables the government to manage costs for common diseases.
While he believes the introduction of DRG may not significantly increase costs, it will provide a timeline for doctors to prescribe appropriate drugs based on symptoms.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
