KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 18 — The public health care system is stretched to its limit, with Ministry of Health (MOH) deputy secretary-general (finance) Norazman Ayob recently warning that most public hospitals are nearly at “end capacity.”
While many might view the solution as building more clinics and hospitals, Kampung Tunku state assemblywoman Lim Yi Wei advocates for a dual strategy that includes both health promotion and the construction of new health care facilities where needed.
“We should avoid adopting a rigid ‘either-or’ approach,” Lim told CodeBlue when contacted. “On the one hand, there are excessive demands in established hospitals, and on the other, underserved communities where health care facilities are scarce.”
To address these imbalances, Lim recommends a thorough needs analysis to predict future health care demands in newly developed neighbourhoods to ensure that facilities are built where they are genuinely needed.
“As new neighbourhoods and townships emerge, hospitals and clinics face increased population and higher density. The needs analysis should project population changes over a 20- or 30-year horizon, so that the construction of new facilities isn’t just a band-aid for present problems but has a buffer for future demands,” Lim said.
Lim also proposed outsourcing support services rather than treatment. The Selangor DAP state lawmaker cited the MOH’s proposal to “Uberise” ambulance services with a pool of government and private ambulances.
But instead of creating a new app to access the shared pool of ambulances, as proposed by Norazman, Lim suggested that the MOH work with rideshare companies to integrate ambulance services within their apps.
This approach could improve accessibility, as many Malaysians are already familiar with and use rideshare apps, while also reducing costs, Lim said. Response times and accuracy could be enhanced by leveraging rideshare operators’ GPS and tracking systems, while incentivising the use of electric vehicle (EV) ambulances could also offer environmental benefits.
However, Lim cautioned against “over-privatisation,” citing the American health care system as an example of how over-privatisation can make basic health care prohibitively expensive.
“I fully empathise with the MOH’s struggle,” Lim said. “But we should be cautious of privatising too fast, too soon.”
Expanding Public Spaces And Sports Facilities
Lim, who represents Kampung Tunku, said that public health care demand could be eased if more people embraced preventive measures, such as regular health screenings and active lifestyles. Yet she acknowledged that promoting wellness alone is not enough.
The 34-year-old state representative said legislators should promote and role-model healthier lifestyles to their constituents.
According to the IYRES Malaysia Sporting Culture Index 2022, Malaysia’s index score is a moderate 52.0. “In short, Malaysia is still not a sporting nation,” said Lim, who is president of the Selangor Rugby Union, the first woman to lead the organisation since its founding over 100 years ago.
Currently, only about 48 per cent of Malaysians are involved in sports; of those, 13.6 per cent are active, 65.7 per cent are moderately active, and 20.7 per cent are not active.
“Simple but visible promotion tactics would be to organise, participate in, or support health and sports activities, and eliminate the serving of oily and sugary food at government functions,” Lim suggested.
The DAP state legislator further called for an integrated wellness approach between ministries. She said the Ministry of Youth and Sports, for instance, could work to democratise access to public sports facilities, while the Ministry of Education could incorporate health education into school curricula. Local councils could also prioritise public spaces for sports, promoting active lifestyles in communities that currently lack these amenities.
Lim has led by example in Kampung Tunku, where her office has upgraded sports facilities, including playgrounds, badminton courts, and parks. Her team has also recently transformed an underutilised badminton court at Jalan SS 1/19 to make way for newer sports like pickleball to reflect shifting interests in the community.
“We’re looking at repurposing some fields to be zoned as ‘multipurpose fields’ instead of restricting them to football, to accommodate alternative but highly popular sports such as ultimate frisbee and flag football,” Lim added.
Since taking office in 2018, Lim’s office has also focused on making these facilities safe and accessible for all ages, installing new lighting, adding benches, and creating jogging paths to make physical activity an easy choice.
Kampung Tunku offers a range of public sports facilities, including 43 badminton courts, 37 playgrounds, 19 parks with exercise equipment (plus one that is specific for people with disabilities or PWD), 11 basketball courts, three tennis courts, three futsal courts, two football fields, two pickleball courts, and a volleyball court.
Lim is also committed to improving walkability and safe pedestrian access around Kampung Tunku. Her team has successfully proposed and got the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) to execute several walkability projects, including pedestrian crossings with push-button traffic lights and the installation of PWD-friendly ramps at high-traffic intersections.
Mandate Free Plain Water At Eateries, Diminishing Returns From Health Screening Events
Lim is equally keen on encouraging dietary changes, suggesting that legislative measures could include mandating eateries to provide free plain water and reduce sugar in drinks.
“Other than promoting healthier options, we should examine the health impacts of the ingredients we use regularly and promote substitution. Western cooking shows and websites now regularly feature low-fat, dairy-free, vegetarian, or vegan alternatives.
“For example, black beans can be blended or pureed to substitute butter or oil in cake-baking. Conversely, what substitutes can we use to make our mutton curry healthier without losing flavour?
“Any measure to promote nutritious alternatives must be consistent and not require too much of a leap in changing habits or practices for consumers and F&B operators.
“Things like mandating free plain (non-bottled) water at eateries, providing options for less sugar or smaller carb options (less rice or noodles) aren’t only healthier; they also reduce wastage,” Lim said.
Meanwhile, Lim shared that health screenings organised around her constituency have had a positive impact, helping residents in her constituency detect and address health issues early.
However, she observed that health fairs have diminishing returns over time as they often attract repeat visitors and offer the same types of screenings from different organisers.
To make screenings more impactful, Lim suggested targeting at-risk populations, expanding offerings to include fitness tests, and creating inclusive options for people with disabilities and seniors.
Editor’s note: The sixth and seventh paragraphs have been amended to better reflect Lim’s position.
