PUTRAJAYA: The RM27 billion allocation for the Health Ministry as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in the 2018 Budget is a practical move in boosting the country’s healthcare service.
Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said 2018 Budget was considered the best one yet received by the ministry.
“This is the first time we receive a large amount of allocation. As announced by the Prime Minister, the funds will be used to improve the quality of healthcare services.
“For instance, some funds will be used for promotional activities, to upgrade the medical equipment; and to build blocks of women and children wards at Tengku Ampuan Hafzan Hospital in Kuantan and Putrajaya Hospital,” he said after attending the Pink October Run at Dataran Putrajaya, here.
Among other things highlighted in the budget include providing flexible working hour one day a week for medical specialists of Grade UD54 and above who have served a minimum of four years and meet certain requirements.
Commenting this, Dr Noor Hisham said this will enable them to give service at private hospitals, conduct research or teaching at public and private universities.
He also thanked the government for the allocation of RM380 million to construct the international forensic medical service centre at Kuala Lumpur Hospital.
“The country’s Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) is popular in the region. In fact, our DVI team had even run complicated forensic cases and had also contributed their services at the international level.
“This is a recognition for the HKL’s National Institute of Forensic Medicine. With such allocation, we hope to further improve the forensic services,” he said.