Spending for Covid-19 vaccination included vaccine costs, vaccination campaign costs, distribution costs, service charges by doctors, nurses and other health professionals administering the vaccines, and organisational costs, according to the MNHA report.
Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii tells the government to stop building new hospitals and clinics, due to staff shortages. He also suggests raising on-call rates and to include MMA/ MPS in the selection process for permanent doctors/ pharmacists.
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.
Dr Zaliha Mustafa says that a meeting she attended with MOF on Budget 2023 earlier today discussed improving health service delivery and upgrading MOH facilities; she did not mention increasing staff numbers or giving pay hikes to health care workers.
Sarawak state government proposes bearing the RM800m cost of construction for a cancer hospital, while the federal government provides specialists and equipment. The health minister indicates a Sarawak cancer hospital will not be allocated in Budget 2023.
The Galen Centre says revenue from windfall taxes is unpredictable, while dipping into national reserves is unsustainable and money taken out from reserves must be replaced.
I dream of the day when our health care system is optimally staffed at all levels and properly equipped. The day when staff nurses and AMOs are not forced to cover gruelling double 8-hour shifts every other day, because there is simply not enough manpower.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told Cabinet that the Health Ministry’s 2023 allocation will “at least be maintained”, although Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa hopes for more.
2022 saw major health issues like medicine shortages, the tobacco bill, and MySejahtera, while chronic problems like overcrowded emergency departments, junior doctor bullying, and NCDs remain unresolved. Health care reform is a key question entering 2023.