To all Malaysian autoimmune patients who are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, psoriasis, and psoriatic arthritis:
We at the Arthritis Foundation Malaysia and the Psoriasis Association of Malaysia are committed to ensuring that you receive the treatments you deserve to manage your autoimmune conditions.
We recognise the challenges you face daily, and it is with your needs in mind that we have recently taken significant steps on your behalf.
We understand that carrying the above disease burdens causes outcomes and symptoms such as degenerative joints, ongoing physical pain, chronic fatigue, limited mobility, skin inflammation, and emotional distress, all of which significantly impact your daily life and overall wellbeing.
Earlier this month, we submitted a formal proposal to the Ministry of Finance (MOF) as part of the national budget discussions for 2025. In this proposal, we advocated for the inclusion of a dedicated budget allocation that would make targeted therapies (including biologic and small molecules) more accessible to patients like you.
This effort is driven by the recognition that, currently, less than 2 per cent of psoriatic patients in public hospitals are receiving biologics, an effective treatment option that can transform the quality of life for many of you.
Through these targeted therapies, we also hope to prevent or mitigate comorbidities such as heart issues, metabolic syndrome, and other related conditions that often accompany autoimmune diseases.
Last September 9, we had the privilege of presenting our case directly to Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad. During this dialogue session at the Everly Hotel Putrajaya, we proposed a separate allocation of RM20 million to the Ministry of Health (MOH), specifically for biologic therapies to treat autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
This initiative is not only about treating these conditions, but also about giving you, the patients, a real chance to live a healthier and fuller life, free from the severe symptoms that accompany these diseases.
While the cost of such treatments can be substantial, we strongly believe that the benefits – both to individual patients and to the broader socio-economic health of Malaysia – far outweigh these costs.
With improved health comes increased productivity, reduced long-term health care costs, and, most importantly, a better quality of life for each of you.
Our proposal outlines a collaborative approach that doesn’t solely rely on government funding. We envision a partnership between the government, industry players, and patient advocacy groups, such as ours, to ensure that the burden is shared, and the programme is managed effectively.
This approach will ensure that you, the patients, are placed at the center of this effort, with your needs and challenges being heard and addressed.
In summary, our proposal includes three key recommendations:
- A special RM20 million programme in 2025 for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, will ensure more Malaysians can access the most effective treatment available.
- An expansion of the national formulary to include biosimilars, making cost-effective and effective alternatives available to eligible patients.
- The establishment of a government-industry-patient mechanism under the leadership of the MOH to manage the biologics programme and explore additional strategies for its effectiveness.
We want you to know that we are working tirelessly to ensure that your voices are heard. We remain hopeful that our government will champion this important cause and ensure that Malaysia becomes a leader in providing equitable, innovative, and sustainable health care solutions for autoimmune diseases.
We eagerly await a reply from the MOF and the MOH. You will find our proposal to MOF and MOH here.
Thank you for your strength, resilience, and patience. We are in this together, and we are hopeful for a brighter, healthier future for all.
- This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of CodeBlue.
