After sustained pressure, TOR finally revealed

It's finally out. After sustained pressure from the Coalition, the Health Ministry has revealed the terms of reference (TOR) for the consultants it is engaging to design a detailed blueprint for the implementation of the national health care financing mechanism. The terms were revealed in a letter to the coalition dated 22 February 2006 from Dr Rosnah Hadis, director of the Ministry's planning and development division.

The terms of reference cover the following areas:

1. Reporting issues, challenges, gaps, and strengths in the existing health care and financing mechanism.
2. Determining the sources of finance, including the shape of the National Health Insurance scheme, which will cover aspects such as the rate and level of contribution and the exempted groups.
3. Determining and recommending the appropriate provider payment mechanism such as case-mix.
4. Determining the health care benefit packages.
5. Studying, proposing and determining the organisation and function of the authority or body under the Health Ministry that would manage and implement the health care financing mechanism.
6. Analysing the implications of the proposed mechanism from the legal, economic, and quality standpoints and evaluating its affordability to the people.
7. Coming up with a detailed action plan for implementation.
8. Discussing and clarifying with the public and carrying out social marketing to promote the mechanism.
9. Developing the human capital and information management systems necessary for the creation and implementation of the mechanism.

Unfortunately, the identity of the consultant remains a secret. The following is the letter received from the Ministry:

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Lampiran

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry says the Coalition is "confused" about the proposed "full paying patients" scheme and it is therefore inviting the Coalition for a dialogue on 14 March at Putrajaya.