Outpatient/ in-patient medical and dental treatment at government hospitals and clinics

1. The basic benefits for an eligible person are free medical or dental treatment (including supply of medicine, orthopaedic equipment and artificial limbs but excluding dentures) at government hospitals or clinics, including the Malaysian Armed Forces hospitals and non-private medical institutes managed by public universities under the Ministry of Higher Education.

2. Although treatment is free, an eligible person who is warded has to bear ward charges in accordance with the rate fixed by the hospital.

Cardiac treatment at Institut Jantung Negara Sdn Bhd (National Heart Institute)

1. An MAF veteran seeking treatment at the National Heart Institute must be examined and referred by a medical specialist from a government/ private hospital.

2. An MAF veteran who goes directly to the National Heart Institute without any referral from a government/ private hospital specialist will not receive free service even if he produces his Ex-Serviceman Card. The institute may impose treatment charges on him as it would for private patients. A veteran shall also bear all related costs in accordance with General Order 4 of Chapter F (Medical).

3. During an emergency, the National Heart Institute will accept and provide medical services and treatment to the patient/ ex-serviceman who comes without any referral from a government/ private hospital. The patient/ next-of-kin is required to submit a letter of confirmation from the DVA to the National Heart Institute within 24 hours.

4. Payment of Ward Deposit. An MAF veteran/ patient who is admitted has to provide his own deposit as follows:

Specialist treatment at local private hospitals

The cost of treatment at a local private hospital could be borne by the government if:

• The patient registers at a government hospital and is certified by a medical specialist from the government hospital that he requires special treatment which is not available at a government hospital

• The Director-General of Health confirms that such treatment is not available at a government hospital

• The DVA has approved treatment for the patient at a local private hospital prior to the said treatment

Overseas Treatment

Overseas treatment costs could be borne by the government if:

• The patient registers at a government hospital and the Medical Board certifies that he requires special treatment that is not available in Malaysia
• The Director-General of Health confirms that such treatment is not available at a government hospital; and
• The patient has received approval for overseas treatment from the Officers’ Council at the Public Services Department.

Application for reimbursement of medical treatment, medicine or equipment expenses

The MAF veteran’s expenditure for several types of treatment as well as medicine or orthopaedic/ artificial limbs may be claimed from the government if the following conditions and application procedures are met:

• Emergency Treatment - Emergency treatment expenses at a local private hospital may be considered on condition that:

• The incident occurred at a location nearer to a private hospital than a government hospital.

• The case requires immediate treatment in order to save the life of the patient and the emergency status is verified by a medical officer of the private hospital.

• The expenses under consideration include treatment during the emergency to the time the patient is transferred to a government hospital. However, the patient is required to bear the ward charges according to the rate of his entitlement in a government hospital.

• Medicine - The expenses for the purchase of medicine may be considered if:

• The medicine prescribed by a government medical officer is included in the list of medicines of the Ministry of Health (MOH)/university hospital. However, it must be verified that the medicine is not available at a government hospital.

• Expenses for the purchase of medicine not included in the list may be considered if there is no alternative for the medicine and the purchase must be approved by the Ministry of Health (for treatment at a MOH hospital) or the director of the university hospital (for treatment at a university hospital).

• Does not include food supplements and alternative medicine.

• The MAF veteran is required to submit an official receipt that clearly enumerates the claim and amount for the purpose of reimbursement.

• Orthopaedic Equipment/ Artificial Limbs - Expenses for the purchase of orthopaedic equipment and artificial limbs as well as implants in order to save the patient’s life (e.g. pacemaker) may be considered if:

• Verified by a government medical officer and confirmed that it is not available at a government hospital.

• Expenses for the repair or replacement of artificial limbs (but not purely for cosmetic reasons) may also be considered if it is certified by a government medical officer and confirmed that it is not available at a government hospital.

• The MAF veteran is required to submit an official receipt which clearly enumerates the claim and amount for the purpose of reimbursement.

• Medical Services

• Expenses for medical services such as CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be considered if its need is certified by a government medical officer and it is confirmed that these services are not available at a government hospital.

• Treatment of Renal Diseases - Expenses for the treatment of end stage renal failure such as haemodialysis and medication, eprex/recormin injections and disposables for Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD) may be considered if

• A nephrologist at a government hospital certifies its necessity and confirms that the services are not available at a government hospital.

• Expenses for haemodialysis are based on actual treatment cost, limited to a maximum of RM200 for each dialysis treatment (limited to 3 times a week). Medication or tests obtained from a private treatment centre will not be considered if they are available at a government hospital.

• Expenses for Arterio-Venous Fistula (AVF)/Internal Jugular Catheters (IJC). Application for AVF/IJC surgical expenses at a private hospital may be considered if the government nephrologist recommends that the patient undergo AVF surgery subject to the following conditions:

• Overly long waiting list for AVF/IJC surgery at government hospitals

• Failure of the first AVF/IJC surgery

• Lack of vascular specialist at government hospitals

• The supply of Erythropoietin/ Recormon to a patient may be borne by the government (limited to twice a week) if the patient requires Eprex/ Recormon in excess of the prescribed limit. A letter of justification from a nephorologist is required.