By investigating the development process of Malaysia’s healthcare policy and various mode of healthcare privatization, this article aims to outline the behavior and triangular relationship of state, interest groups and civil society which form the basic network of healthcare policy.

 

Since the launching of its privatization policy in the early 1980s, Malaysian Government has gradually opened up the once public hospital dominated and non-profitable organization supplementing healthcare market for private investment. Related policies include: (1) encouragement for private hospital and private medical insurance business; (2) corporatization of government hospital, such as IJN and teaching hospitals; (3) introduction of full payment system in the public hospitals; (4) setting up of private wing or commercial accounting department in the government hospitals ;(5)contracting out non-medical services, such as medical store and health support services. [Download]