The first phase of the national health insurance scheme MySalam is for five years, and if it is proven capable of reducing the burden of the B40 group, the government will study whether or not to continue with it said Deputy Finance Minister Amiruddin Hamzah.

The scheme provides a one-off payment of RM8,000 to participants who are diagnosed with any one of the 36 listed critical diseases, including cancer and heart ailments.

The scheme also gives out a daily payment of RM50 as replacement income for a maximum of 14 days or RM700 a year to those receiving treatment at any government hospitals.