MOH’s allocation of services and supplies for psychiatry and mental health were cut by RM580,000, while the health education budget suffered a 15% cut (RM9 mil). Peka B40 lost RM5 mil.
Despite an NCD crisis, allocations for health education and Peka B40 were cut, though there is an RM16 million allocation for Agenda Nasional Malaysia Sihat.
APHM hopes that the government will not disrupt the business model of private health care so that private hospitals can give more support to public hospitals.
Police statistics show an 81% rise in suicide cases in 2021, up from 631 cases in 2020, arising from chronic stress, loss of income, domestic violence, financial crisis, and unexpected deaths during the pandemic.
The Galen Centre also recommends introducing co-payments of up to 30% for diabetic treatments, besides a national insurance scheme for those above age 40 specifically to fund aged care.