BNM Delays Health Takaful To 2027, GP Fee Maintained

Samuel Chua

13th October 2025 - 3 min read

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has announced that the basic Medical and Health Takaful Insurance, which supports the diagnosis-related groups (DRG) hospital payment system, will now be launched in 2027 instead of 2026. The insurance design is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

The DRG system, which replaces traditional fee-for-service hospital billing with fixed, diagnosis-based payments, has also been rescheduled for 2027. The delay allows additional time to complete system development, finalise cost models, integrate hospital data, and conduct pilot testing before the national rollout.

According to BNM, the government and industry players have allocated RM60 million to support ongoing healthcare reforms, including the DRG system. The extended timeline aims to ensure the reforms are implemented efficiently and with minimal disruption to hospitals and patients.

BNM also announced an extra RM35 million in matching grants for the iTEKAD social finance programme. The initiative, which combines financing with social support, will expand its focus to include job creation for vulnerable groups, helping them build income stability and financial resilience.

The additional funding will be matched with contributions from donations, zakat, and cash waqf, with further implementation details to be announced later.

Government Keeps Minimum GP Consultation Fee At RM10

Separately, the government has decided to maintain the minimum consultation fee for general practitioners (GPs) at RM10. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the move is intended to reduce the financial burden on Malaysians, particularly those without insurance who pay medical expenses directly.

Dzulkefly said this decision demonstrates the government’s commitment to ensuring that essential healthcare remains affordable. While the minimum fee remains unchanged, the ceiling fee has been increased from RM35 to RM80 to allow GPs more flexibility in setting charges based on the complexity and duration of consultations.

“For example, a short consultation for a common cold should not be compared to a longer session addressing chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, or mental health,” he said.

Encouraging Quality Care And Patient Engagement

Dzulkefly noted that the fee revision supports a more comprehensive approach to patient care. By giving GPs flexibility in fee-setting, the government aims to improve the quality of consultations and encourage better management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which continue to rise across Malaysia.

He added that stronger doctor–patient relationships are key to better health outcomes, as patients who receive thorough care are more likely to continue follow-up treatment. The new fee range also helps ensure patients receive quality care at fair value.

“This ceiling price adjustment is a strategic move to encourage responsible care while ensuring patients get value for their money,” he said.

Mixed Reactions From The Medical Community

The new GP consultation fee range between RM10 and RM80 was confirmed during the tabling of Budget 2026 by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on 10 October.

However, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) expressed disappointment that the minimum fee of RM10, which has been in place since the 1992 Fee Schedule, remains unchanged despite the first review in 17 years.

The government has indicated that both the new takaful scheme and the DRG model will take effect in 2027, subject to finalisation and gazettement.

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