(Borneo Bulletin, Bandar Seri Begawan, 4th) The Ministry of Health’s new medical fee measures, effective from July 1, have led some netizens to express helplessness and concern on social media.
One netizen wrote that the new policy, which targets foreign residents holding non-Bruneian passports, has left him and his family feeling helpless and uneasy.
He revealed that his parents are now in their seventies and originally came to Brunei for work. Although their contributions may have been limited, they have long considered Brunei a second home. While they hold Malaysian passports, they have many relatives and friends in Brunei, and would have little support if they returned to Malaysia.
“Now, as they get older and have no source of income, when they fall ill we are especially worried about not being able to afford the high medical costs.”
The netizen said that as a foreign permanent resident, he sincerely hopes that His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei and the government will empathize with the plight of elderly foreign residents—for example, by considering offering a fifty percent discount on medical fees, or launching more affordable insurance schemes—to ensure they can receive proper care when facing health issues.
“As is well known, it has always been difficult to obtain Bruneian citizenship. Even so, we hope that when illness and hardship strike, the government can offer more support and concern to help us through tough times.”