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H E A L T H C A R E D E M A N D V O L U M E III

2.3.1 Minor Health Problem

The mean perceived cost for minor health problem was RM4.10 (95% CI, 3.34 - 4.86) and
RM44.09 (95% CI, 43.30 - 44.89) respectively for government and private facilities (Table
2.11). It was 10 times higher in private as compared to government facilities.

2.3.2 Major Health Problem
Meanwhile, the mean perceived cost for major health problem in private and government was
RM165.82 (95% CI, 154.81 – 176.82) and RM19.46 (95% CI, 16.94 – 21.98) respectively. The
healthcare cost in private was perceived to be about 8.5 times more as compared to the
government (means comparison). Across all SES, more discrepancies were observed for the
perceived cost in private facilities. (Table 2.12).

2.3.3 Minor Surgery
As a whole, the population perceived higher cost (approximately 8.6 times more) for minor
surgery in private (RM90.89; 95% CI, 87.32 - 94.45) as compared to government facilities
(RM10.54; 95% CI, 9.40 - 11.68) (mean comparisons) (Table 2.13).

There was not much difference in the perceived cost across income quintiles for both
government and private.facilities. Similar pattern of perceived cost was seen in household
income group for both government and private.
2.3.4 Major Surgery

Overall, the mean for perceived cost for major surgery in private (RM13,123.55; 95% CI,
12,346.89 - 13,900.21) was approximately 6.1 times more as compared to government
facilities (RM2,143.87; 95% CI 1,967.54 - 2,320.19) (Table 2.14).

The cost for major surgery was perceived to be more in government facilities by the younger
as compared to the elder population. Whilst for private, the middle age population perceived
that they need to pay more for major surgery. Those from higher income group (RM8,000 and
above) perceived the cost for major surgery to be higher as compared to other income group
for both government and private facilities.

2.3.5 Dental Treatment

Overall, private was perceived as about 11.5 times more costly compared to government
(means comparison). The highest mean perceived cost for dental treatment was for oral
healthcare rendered by the private providers (RM96.15; 95% CI, RM92.05 – RM100.25) as
compared to public providers (RM8.33; 95% CI, RM7.03 – RM9.64) (Table 2.15). The
population in WPKL perceived they had paid more for oral healthcare by private providers
(RM139.45; 95% CI, 119.72 - 159.17) compared to other states except for the state of
Selangor. A higher mean cost payment to private providers was also perceived by the urban
population (RM103.87; 95% CI, RM98.59 – RM109.15) compared to the rural population
(RM72.41; 95% CI, RM68.72 – RM76.11). Those of ‘others’ ethnicity perceived a higher cost
payment (RM22.82; 95% CI, 16.99 - 28.64) to government provider compared to other

STRY OF HEALTH MALAYSIA
NATIONAL HEALTH AND MORBIDITY SURVEY 2015 49 MINI