Formation Of Long-Term Partnerships
The formation of a long-term partnership between public and private health care providers in Malaysia, building upon the successful collaboration between public and private health care during the pandemic, will benefit both the government and the private sector, with all Malaysians being the key beneficiaries.
There still are long waiting lists for procedures in public hospitals, and these can certainly be reduced if there is a structured and long-term arrangement for private hospitals to assist in reducing the existing load and maintaining a short wait time, especially for elective procedures which can greatly enhance an individual’s productivity.
Greater Focus On An Ageing Society
Greater focus on an ageing society, including necessary social safety nets, proper care facilities, and post-hospitalisation care and support. Here, the government should consider partnering with the many physiotherapy and home care organisations to ensure patients have good compliance with post-hospital care, including physiotherapy, wound care, and others.
An ageing population also means reduced mobility due to various issues, for example, orthopaedic-related issues, which be addressed with proper intervention, and where needed, surgery. Government subsidies for implants, such as knee and hip implants, can reduce the burden for the uninsured (which constitutes a large majority of those who need such care), thus ensuring that they have good mobility and independence even as they age.
Innovation In Health Care
With the advent of robotics, 3D printing, and other new technologies, the government should consider encouraging the adoption of such technologies, especially in health care. Grants or personal subsidies to access such health technologies where appropriate can promote the adoption and even development of such technologies.
For example, 3D-printed casts or prosthetics will improve recovery and promote long-term quality of life. The regulatory framework also needs to support the faster adoption of such health technologies, to ensure Malaysia is able to maintain its advantage as a health care travel destination.
Competitive And Facilitative Immigration Policies
Competitive and facilitative immigration policies will allow Malaysia to serve a greater number of foreign patients, which in turn will lower the cost of investment in health-related technologies and equipment, thus enabling more Malaysians to access it as well.
Some of our neighbours continue to attract patients from a number of different countries, despite being less competitive overall than Malaysia, primarily due to the ease of arrival.
Thus, they are able to invest in health care technologies such as Proton beam, as fee-paying foreign patients ensure that there is a sufficient volume for these advanced modalities.
- This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of CodeBlue.
