Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are turning out to be a global challenge, and this issue is particularly prevalent in Malaysia. According to the 2019 National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS), one in five Malaysian adults has diabetes, three in ten suffer from high blood pressure, and four in ten have high cholesterol levels.
Given that NCDs requires long-term care and management, the demand for health care services in the nation has risen, due to an ageing population and an increasing number of people living with NCDs.
While the private health care sector is the preferred choice for those who can afford it, individuals with lower and middle incomes, constrained by financial limitations, often turn to public health care facilities to manage their NCDs. However, this influx of patients has exacerbated the challenges faced by our health care system.
Presently, the public health care system is facing various resource challenges, particularly in remote areas where health care facilities and specialised services such as oncology, endocrinology, and others, are lacking.
Furthermore, due to the substantial patient load, there is a deficit in the availability of equipment and medical facilities to meet the current demand.
The issue of overcrowding has also led to burnout among health care workers and a substantial migration of talent towards the private sector, leaving the public sector understaffed.Â
These challenges have significantly affected people living with NCDs. Patients now have to endure lengthy waiting times to secure appointments for diagnostic services, treatment, and follow-up care in public health care facilities.
In some unfortunate instances, patients are forced to travel long distances to access specialised care, as their local public health care facilities do not offer such services.
These challenges have resulted in delays in receiving timely diagnoses and essential treatments to effectively manage their diseases. Patients relying on public health care often voice their frustrations with the current health care system, which has inevitably hindered their disease management.Â
In contrast, private health care settings actively seek patients, widely distributing marketing and promotional materials. They promote their services, likely because of the under-utilisation of diagnostic and medical services, as well as a lack of clientele for some medical specialist services.
This imbalance in health care utilisation between the public and private sectors has created a significant gap in the quality of care between the public and private health care sectors in Malaysia.
Addressing this pressing issue requires a concerted effort to ensure equitable health care access and outcomes for NCD patients. A robust collaboration between public and private health care facilities may address many of these challenges.
The Ministry of Health could initiate engagement with private health care providers to alleviate the NCD burden on the public health care system through a mutually beneficial partnership.
Instead of relying on corporate social responsibility (CSR) approaches which may not be sustainable, the public sector could procure services from private health care facilities.
To expedite care and eliminate the need for patients to travel long distances for specialised services, the government should consider directing patients in areas with limited public health care facilities to nearby private health care settings for NCD management services or diagnostic care. This approach can significantly improve the timely delivery of care.
Malaysia has witnessed successful collaborations with private health care facilities, especially during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021. Private hospitals stepped up to support the public health care system in managing non-Covid and Covid-19 patients, based on their individual hospital capacities and capabilities. Given the success of this collaboration, why not consider its continuation?
By nurturing strong partnerships between the public and private health care sectors, we can envision a health care system that provides equitable care regardless of financial status, ensuring quality health care for all.
This article was written by Dr Janice Hew Pei Fang, Mohamad Ishak Ahmad Abir, Thaarenee Wiswannadan, Nariza Alysa Azryn, Dr Jessica Anne Canute, Mahirah Ma’som, Chan Wan Thung, Dr Murallitharan Munisamy, and Dr Saunthari Somasundaram from NCD Malaysia.
NCD Malaysia is the Malaysian chapter of the Global NCD Alliance, comprising 16 organisations that advocate for people living with non-communicable diseases. For further information about NCD Malaysia, please visit the NCD Malaysia Facebook and Instagram pages.
- This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of CodeBlue.
