Doctors Without Borders has also witnessed refugees and asylum seekers who delay or do not seek healthcare because they are unable to afford the medical fees that foreigners are subjected to in the country. As refugees are forbidden by law to work, those fees remain prohibitively high, even after the 50% discount extended by the government to holders of documentation issued by the UN Refugee Agency. This policy forces already vulnerable families into making impossible choices, between healthcare, food or housing. In the long-term, this also increases the burden on Malaysia’s public healthcare system, as delayed treatment can result in increased costs of using secondary health care.
Doctors Without Borders calls on the Ministry of Health to steer a new course forward when reforming the health system to make it inclusive, safe and affordable for all, including refugees and asylum seekers who are among the most vulnerable in Malaysia. Immediate priorities should include repealing the Ministry of Health Circular 10/2001 and introduction of proportional fees for people without formal access to employment or social safety nets, including refugees, asylum seekers and stateless people.
