Health Ministry studies legal and payment frameworks to allow public patients, including children with cerebral palsy, access to Socso rehab facilities.
PETALING JAYA: The Health Ministry is studying legal, payment and indemnity frameworks to allow public patients, including children with cerebral palsy (CP), to access advanced rehabilitation facilities currently operated by the Social Security Organisation (Socso).
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the move aims to address current limitations that restrict Socso rehabilitation services primarily to eligible contributors under the Employees’ Social Security Act 1969.
He said the ministry is exploring collaboration through the Health Services Outsourcing Programme (HSOP), which could enable public healthcare patients to benefit from Socso’s high-technology rehabilitation services.
“I view it as very important for us to immediately address this constraint,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat.
“Socso’s rehabilitation sector provides world-class and high-technology services such as neuro-robotics and the Walk Again programme.”
Dzulkefly said legal differences between systems currently prevent wider access, as Socso facilities are governed under social security legislation, while broader public access would require compliance with the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998.
He said if Socso facilities are registered under the 1998 Act, participation in HSOP could be considered, subject to regulatory approval.
“We want to continue these discussions so that we can make use of all Socso rehabilitation facilities, which are world-class and equipped with the latest technology.
“Through HSOP, this will not only be for contributors, but also allow us to treat other patients,” he said.
The ministry’s Medical Practice Division, Medical Development Division and legal advisers are currently reviewing mechanisms covering payment structures, feasibility of implementation, indemnity issues and inter-ministerial legal considerations.
Dzulkefly was responding to questions from Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen (PH-Bandar Kuching), who raised concerns about limited rehabilitation access for children with cerebral palsy and suggested a national CP registry to improve planning and service delivery.
Separately, Datuk Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi (PN-Kuala Langat) called for a national CP action plan to streamline policy and financing across ministries.
Dzulkefly said Health Ministry data recorded 1,076 cerebral palsy cases receiving early intervention services from 2016 to 2025.
He added that about half of CP patients have normal cognitive function, while others experience varying levels of impairment.
Current services include early screening, multidisciplinary rehabilitation, caregiver support, home-care training, community-based rehabilitation, assistive devices and rehabilitation equipment.
He stressed that early intervention is crucial to ensure children with CP can achieve their potential.
“The sooner we take an integrated approach, the more we can allow these children to remain productive and realise their potential to serve society and the country,” he said.
