{
  "id": 12639412,
  "title": "KKM cadang wajibkan insurans untuk pelarian, pemohon suaka",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/kkm-cadang-wajibkan-insurans-untuk-pelarian-pemohon-suaka-12639412",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-07T13:06:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/bahasa/tempatan/2026/10/07/kkm-cadang-wajibkan-insurans-untuk-pelarian-pemohon-suaka"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "More than 80% of medical bills related to foreign patients receiving treatment in Malaysian hospitals involve undocumented or unregistered individuals, according to the Health Ministry (KKM). (Photo: Bernama)\n\nHealth Minister Hanifah Hajar Taib disclosed to the Dewan Rakyat that the proposal to mandate health insurance for registered refugees and asylum seekers aims to manage their treatment costs and prevent new medical bills from piling up. She emphasized that such measures align with the Geneva Declaration, Hippocratic Oath, and 1978 Alma-Ata Declaration.\n\nHanifah highlighted that 80% of the delay in medical bills is attributed to non-citizen patients, particularly those without proper documentation. However, she stressed that the ministry must ensure patient care remains humane, especially in emergency cases.\n\nThe ministry's budget for 2025 decreased by RM23 million (6.4%) from RM359 million in 2024 to RM336 million, indicating a reduction in the total number of unclaimed accounts. The main reasons for unpaid medical bills include insufficient financial resources, lack of insurance coverage, patients leaving healthcare facilities without payment, and incomplete or inaccurate identification and contact information.\n\nThe KKM chief explained that public healthcare facilities have taken various steps to recover outstanding payments, such as issuing multiple warnings, sending legal notices, contacting embassies or heirs, demanding payment from employers, and collaborating with NGOs to help cover unpaid patient bills. The ministry has also strengthened its approach by requiring deposits and installments during treatment, expanding cashless payment options, and enhancing tracking of unclaimed accounts.\n\nHanifah stated that cooperation with employers, insurance companies, and NGOs is ongoing, while the value of bank guarantees for employers and private corporations will be increased in line with rising medical costs.",
  "summary": "Langkah ini bagi menampung kos rawatan, bendung tunggakan bil perubatan pesakit bukan warganegara, kata timbalan menteri.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "KKM cadang wajibkan insurans untuk pelarian, pemohon suaka",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/kkm-cadang-wajibkan-insurans-untuk-pelarian-pemohon-suaka",
        "published": "2026-10-07T13:06:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}