KUALA LUMPUR: The increase in Health Ministry’s (MOH) 2018 budget allocation clearly shows the government gives priority to the healthcare needs of the Rakyat.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S.Subramaniam said the ministry’s allocation for 2018 is RM26.58 billion which is 9.5 per cent or 1.7 billion increase compared to what it received in the 2017 budget.
“I am pleased with the announcement as this will assist our ongoing health transformations initiatives apart from providing a strong base for the health services to be provided to the Rakyat,” said Dr Subramaniam in a statement posted at his website.
He adds that this year, the ministry has an allowance for new programmes, which will aid the MOH’s efforts to increase awareness especially on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).
He said the MOH had embarked in a community based health empowerment initiative called KOSPEN, which is a community health promotions programme.
“We launched it two years ago in which we had trained 40,000 volunteers among the community throughout the country. They had been given training to take blood pressure, blood glucose and give advice on health issues or simply known as “health ambassador” on the ground.”
Dr Subramaniam said there is a RM 30 million allocation for this and the MOH will empower them to increase the war against NCDs.
Moving forward he said, in creating a sustainable and resilient health system MOH had been allocated RM50 million to manage a major transformative effort called Voluntary Health Insurance or VHI, which is a non-profit-oriented and voluntary basis insurance programme.
“In the long term, we would be able to optimise our healthcare facilities in both government and private sectors and address the shortcoming within current private health insurance schemes.”
A major portion in the MOH’s budget, about RM4.1 billion, goes to medicines, drugs, medical aids and other consumables, he said
“There is also a RM1.4 billion allocation for maintenance and improvement of medical equipment and infrastructures at Muar Hospital, Banting Hospital and Balik Pulau Hospital.
“Besides that, a new 200 bedded cancer institute will be built in Sungai Petani with a cost of RM500 million, while a special 300 bedded block for women and children will be built at Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital and Putrajaya Hospital with a cost of RM1billion. Cardiothoraxic and cardiology services wil be upgraded in Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital and Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital.
“Penang Hospital will be getting a new specialist clinic and wards for a cost of RM500million,” he said.
Looking at the forensic component of the medical services and rising need for this service, MOH will build a forensic medical centre in Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL).
Dr Subramaniam said he was also pleased to see that RM30 million has been allocated to boost end-to-end service in medical health tourism as well as to promote In Vitro Fertilization technology and cardiology services.
“Private hospitals will be incentivised to partake in the campaign through the Flagship Medical Tourism Hospital programme. This will be managed by Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council. MHTC, an agency within Ministry of Health will help maintain momentum for the medical tourism industry.”
On separate announcement under the public service improvement, the government will introduce Flexi Working Hours for the senior specialist (UD54 and above, 4 years post-gazettment) whereby they will be given one day relaxation a week to do research, training or locum work.
“This is to incentivise our senior specialists by allowing some flexibility in their service.”
For 2018, RM2.2billion is also allocated for scholarship under Public Service Department in which some of this will be allocated to Ministry of Health for postgraduate education.
A special allocation was also announced for dialysis treatment for hemodialysis patients involving RM90 million.