COMMENT | Malaysia stands at a critical inflection point. With medical inflation projected to hit above 16 percent this year - the highest in a decade and far outpacing both the Asia-Pacific average and our regional peers - the trajectory is clear and alarming.

This is not merely a statistical concern; it is a lived reality for millions. Since 2024, over 340,000 Malaysians have surrendered or terminated their health insurance policies, priced out of coverage they once relied upon.

The public healthcare system, our enduring safety net, faces the very real risk of being overwhelmed by patients transmigrating from the private sector.

The storm has arrived. The question is no longer whether we act, but how effectively we navigate through the storm.

Tackling medical inflation requires...