Coalition to present counter-proposal at forum

The Coalition will be holding a half-day forum to discuss the government’s proposed New Health Care Financing Scheme, which will have far-reaching effects on the way health care is delivered in Malaysia. The Coalition has been pursuing a dialogue with the Ministry of Health, and we have obtained certain important insights as to how the government is approaching this new scheme. We wish to share these insights with other civil society groups in this half-day forum. We also intend to table a counter-proposal to the government’s scheme.

Date: Sunday, 11 December 2005

Time: 10.00 am - 1.00 pm

Venue: University Malaya campus (actual location to be confirmed later)

Registration fees: RM 10/person (simple lunch provided)

Programme

- The Health Ministry will be invited to send a speaker on this topic

- Coalition spokespersons will present our understanding of the government’s proposed scheme as well as the Coalition's counter-proposal.

- 1 ½ hours will be set aside for participation from the floor.

- Professional bodies such as the MMA, the MDA, the MNU as well as consumer groups, unions and other civil society groups will be invited to attend and give their feedback.

The EPU and the UNDP are in the final stages of appointing an international consultant to determine the finer details of this scheme. The Consultant is expected to start work in early 2006. We need to move briskly if we wish to have a say.

We hope you will make the effort to attend this forum.

Thank you.

Jeyakumar Devaraj.

For further information you can liase with

Dr Subramaniam 016 4546876

Coalition chairman

Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj 019 5616807

Coalition secretary

Dr Xavier Jayakumar 012 2860595

Health forum coordinator