Title: Resource management for full paying patient service in Malaysia: issues and challenges

Authors: Muhammad Nur Amir Bin Abdul Rassip; Nor Haniza Binti Zakaria; Pangie Anak Baki; Mohd Anis Haron; Muhammad Yusof Sibert; Noriah Binti Bidin; Nor Izzah Binti Ahmad Shauki; Nor Hayati Binti Ibrahim

Addresses: Institute for Health Management, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Block B1, Kompleks Institut Kesihatan Negara, No. 1, Jalan Setia Murni U13/52, Seksyen U13 Setia Alam, 40170 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia ' Institute for Health Management, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Block B1, Kompleks Institut Kesihatan Negara, No. 1, Jalan Setia Murni U13/52, Seksyen U13 Setia Alam, 40170 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia ' Institute for Health Management, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Block B1, Kompleks Institut Kesihatan Negara, No. 1, Jalan Setia Murni U13/52, Seksyen U13 Setia Alam, 40170 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia ' Putrajaya Hospital, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan P9, Precint 7, 62250 Putrajaya, Federal Territory Putrajaya, Malaysia ' Selayang Hospital, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Selayang – Kepong Expressway, 68100 Batu Caves, Selangor, Malaysia ' Institute for Health Management, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Block B1, National Institutes of Health, No. 1, Jalan Setia Murni U13/52, Section U13, Setia Alam, 40170, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia ' Institute for Health Management, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Block B1, National Institutes of Health, No. 1, Jalan Setia Murni U13/52, Section U13, Setia Alam, 40170, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia ' Institute for Health Management, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Block B1, National Institutes of Health, No. 1, Jalan Setia Murni U13/52, Section U13, Setia Alam, 40170, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

Abstract: Full paying patient service (FPP) in the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) hospitals was established as one of the specialist retention initiatives in 2007. FPP hospitals experience significant challenges in managing their resources while serving the public as their utmost priority. A semi-structured guide was used in 17 focus group discussions and 12 in-depth interviews with specialists, hospital directors, and supporting staff exploring issues and challenges in managing hospitals' resources. Four sub-themes were identified (ward/facility, medical equipment, drugs/consumable, workforce). Some of the issues include no dedicated FPP ward/equivalent ward, sharing of medical equipment and specialists' medication quota between public and FPP patients, inability to charge unlisted drug/consumables in the Fee Act. Limited human resources, especially among the support group to run FPP, lead to an increase in workload and dissatisfaction. Proper planning and close monitoring by MOH and individual hospitals are crucial to overcome these issues and improve the service.

Keywords: management; ministry of health; qualitative; resources; specialist retention.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHTM.2023.130298

International Journal of Healthcare Technology and Management, 2023 Vol.20 No.1, pp.53 - 73

Accepted: 30 Mar 2022
Published online: 17 Apr 2023 *