Selangorians Urged To Use Free Private Hospital Services To Ease Public Hospitals' Burden
Under the Iltizam Selangor Sihat (ISS) initiative, Selangor residents can receive up to RM10,000 annually in free inpatient treatment at 30 private hospitals.
By Yap Wan Xiang — 25 Sep 2024, 06:38 PM
A doctor has urged Selangor residents to utilise the Iltizam Selangor Sihat (ISS) initiative to get free inpatient treatment at private hospitals to ease the burden of public hospitals in the state
Earlier this month, Dr Malar Santhi Santherasegapan took to Instagram to raise awareness about the ISS initiative.
She highlighted that queues in public hospitals have become excessively long in the state and explained how the ISS initiative can help alleviate the issue.
The ISS initiative has been around for a few years, but new benefits introduced in June allow Selangor residents to receive free inpatient treatment with an annual coverage limit of RM10,000 at 30 private hospitals and 18 public hospitals in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.
The initiative covers hospitalisation treatment for almost all diseases, except 36 critical illnesses.
Selangor state public health and environment executive councillor Jamaliah Jamaluddin told CodeBlue in an interview that the state government is working with all state assemblies to ensure more citizens know about the initiative.
To be eligible for the free inpatient medical services, Selangor residents will have to register
The initiative is separated into two categories: individuals and families. Every Selangor resident under the age of 80 is eligible but priority will be given to the B40 group.
They are required to obtain a reference letter before they can become an ISS member, which can be requested at any public hospital and clinic, or through Selcare's telemedicine service on the Selangkah app.
Upon registration, an ISS member can receive free inpatient treatment at the 48 panel hospitals immediately, except for emergency treatments at private hospitals, noted Malar.
"Once you become an ISS member and receive [free] hospitalisation services [in private hospitals], you have helped shorten the waiting time at public hospitals and clinics.
"I think the benefits of this programme are astounding because it can reduce the healthcare gap in different socioeconomic groups and everyone can get treatments that they need promptly," said the doctor who received the Exemplary Employee Award from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim last year.
Malar mentioned that the initiative covers a wide range of common health conditions, including asthma, bronchiolitis, dengue, influenza, heart failure, and vertigo, among others.
She urged senior citizens to benefit from the ISS initiative.
To learn more and register for the programme, visit the Iltizam Selangor Sihat website here.
Selangor state public health and environment executive councillor Jamaliah Jamaluddin.
Image via CodeBlue