The Malaysian Health Coalition urges the government to consider a few important strategies for Budget 2024, alongside a focus on strong implementation and good governance.
Public-private partnerships are essential in improving Malaysia’s health care system and enhancing the country’s reputation as a hub for world-class health care services.
The Malaysian Pharmacists Society wants to know the basis on how the government decides how many doctors, dentists, and pharmacists to recruit into the health service, besides calling for a bigger role for community pharmacies in Peka B40.
The Galen Centre says no-nicotine vape products should also be taxed, adding that while it’s encouraging to see allocations for health infrastructure upgrades, it’s disappointing to see no commitment to sustainable health care financing in Budget 2023.
The allocation for information and communications technology (ICT) in MOH rose by a whopping 939% from an estimated RM11.3 million in 2022 to RM117.2 million for 2023.
Budget 2023 proposes outsourcing outpatients from congested MOH hospitals to university, military, and private hospitals. APHM says in response that this depends on private health care current capacity that seems to be “overstretched” too.
MOH’s RM36.33 billion allocation for 2023 marks a 12% increase (RM3.9 billion) from 2022. Anwar Ibrahim says the budget includes RM3 billion to hire more than 1,500 permanent and contract doctors, dentists, and pharmacists.
During the tabling of Budget 2023, Anwar Ibrahim says the government supports the “spirit” of the GEG and has agreed to earmark 50% of proposed excise duties on vape liquids containing nicotine for the Health Ministry.
Tanjong Karang MP Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi (Bersatu) says MOH’s 2022 budget of RM32.4 billion was “completely inadequate”, as he calls for health care spending of at least 5%-10% of the GDP or the "immediate" introduction of a social health insurance scheme.
Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa says MOH can't recruit more doctors without additional positions or funding provided by JPA and MOF, adding that she will be meeting with state health directors and hospital directors on Feb 28.