Lim said the one-off cash assistance of RM8,000 would be given directly to patients suffering from the 36 listed critical illnesses and not to government hospitals.

“We are doing something good for B40 patients who need the money. I do not see why this matter is being questioned.

“We will give the one-off cash assistance directly to the patients, not to the hospital,” he said at a press conference here today.

Lim was responding to concerns raised by doctor and patient groups over the scheme, in particular by former Malaysian Medical Association president Dr Milton Lum.

Lum was reported by the Malay Mail as saying that the health insurance scheme for the B40 group of income earners ― to which insurance company Great Eastern Takaful Berhad is contributing RM2 billion — must have mechanisms in place to prevent corruption.

‘Corrupt practices’

Lum claimed the scheme could encourage “corrupt practices” although he did not explain how.

There were also concerns that middlemen would be involved in the mySalam scheme and that the health ministry would procure drugs through open tenders or negotiations.

Lum reportedly said the use of middlemen and obsolete contracts in the past caused the ministry to purchase drugs at a higher price than other countries.

The scheme is expected to offer medical protection for at least five years to the target group.

Under the scheme, qualified recipients will get health protection for free for 36 critical illnesses, including cancer, heart attacks and Alzheimer’s disease. Recipients will get a one-off payment of RM8,000 if they are identified as suffering from any one of these listed critical illnesses.

The scheme also gives out a daily payment of RM50 as replacement income if the recipient has to undergo treatment at any government hospital for a maximum 14 days a year, equivalent to RM700 a year.

Some 3.7 million Malaysians, aged between 18 and 55, stand to benefit from this scheme.

Lim was then asked to address concerns raised by PSM’s Dr Michael Jeyakumar that the implementation of the scheme could possibly undermine the public healthcare system, as patients and specialists who serve in public hospitals would go to private institutions instead.

This, Jeyakumar had said, would end up boosting the private hospital sector, resulting in more specialists going to private hospitals.

To this, Lim said even if mySalam did not exist, the B40 group would naturally seek treatment at government hospitals.

“I don’t understand (how this will boost the private healthcare system). We are talking about helping the B40 group. They will seek treatment at government hospitals.

“Those who are part of the B40 group do not have the capacity to buy medical insurance or takaful. They seek treatment at government hospitals. I think that question is not relevant,” he said.

The Bagan MP said if anyone in the B40 group could afford to seek treatment at private hospitals, they did not need the mySalam coverage.

“That is why I said only government hospitals, because most of those in the B40 group go to government hospitals. How does it benefit private hospitals? I don’t understand.”

Earlier, Lim presented a mock cheque for RM20 million to Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail to be used for the “Buy Malaysian Products” campaign to support local products and services.

The amount had been allocated under Budget 2019.

Lim said this campaign will ensure the cost of living is controlled and enhance the purchasing power of the people.

“This campaign will provide a platform for local manufacturers and service providers to access hypermarkets, shopping complexes and trading expos so that local products and services can be marketed to more users nationwide,” he said in his speech.

Also present were Deputy Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Chong Chieng Jen and ministry secretary-general Muez Abd Aziz.