KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 — The Malaysia Public Health Physicians’ Association (PPPKAM) told the government today to commit funding to reflect its declared shift to preventive health care.
Citing a November 2023 report by the Malaysia National Health Accounts (MNHA) under the Ministry of Health (MOH), PPPKAM pointed out that Malaysia’s preventive care funding fell to 6.6 per cent of total expenditure on health (TEH) in 2022, or about RM5.2 billion, from a peak of 13.6 per cent in 2021 (RM10.6 billion) during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Based on the MNHA report, preventive care expenditure share of TEH in 2022 at 6.6 per cent was even lower than 7.9 per cent in 2020 and just 0.3 percentage points higher than 6.3 per cent in 2019.
“This decline indicates a lack of consistent investment in preventive health, despite the government’s intention to shift focus from curative to preventive care,” PPPKAM president Prof Dr Jamalludin Ab Rahman said in a statement.
“To reduce the strain on our health care system, PPPKAM urges the government to commit to sustainable investments in preventive health care and behavioural change programmes.”
PPPKAM was responding to comments by MOH deputy secretary-general (finance) Norazman Ayob at a recent conference, where he said excessive health care demand from the country’s non-communicable disease (NCD) crisis is pushing the public health care system to near capacity.
Norazman had pointed out that more than 80 per cent of government hospitals under the MOH exceed 100 per cent bed occupancy rates.
“The rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular issues is a significant contributor to this strain,” Dr Jamalludin said.
“Many of these conditions are closely linked to lifestyle factors, and addressing them effectively requires a shift towards preventive strategies. Public health education, community engagement, and early screening are crucial components of this approach.”
He also called for increased resources to manage communicable diseases.
“The government’s National Vaccine Development Roadmap, introduced in 2021, aims to establish Malaysia as a producer of human vaccines within the next decade. While the roadmap is admirable, it requires ongoing financial commitment and strategic planning,” PPPKAM said.
“The Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI) allocated RM33 million for vaccine research in 2023, but continued support is essential to strengthen Malaysia’s readiness to handle infectious diseases.”
