KUALA LUMPUR: The government is increasingly finding itself struggling to maintain a free health care system, especially in the face of rising costs and an ageing demographic.
Health Minister, Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the predicament is not only faced by Malaysia but also in the United Kingdom (UK).
She said like the UK, Malaysia has a free health care system that equitably provides quality care.
"Just like the UK, Malaysia is also increasingly struggling to maintain our services, especially in the face of rising costs and an ageing demographic," she said in a posting on Twitter today.
Earlier, Dr Zaliha uploaded a message on her attendance at the 152nd World Health Organisation (WHO) Executive Board meeting.
On her return journey home, the minister briefly stopped over in the UK to participate in a panel discussion at Oxford University.
"The discussion emphasised the need to secure healthcare services in the future in line with ongoing efforts of the White Paper on Health.
"A framework for more sustainable and resilient healthcare services will be provided to meet the needs of the people," she said.
The discussion panel was also attended by Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah and Oxford University Associate Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine, Prof Dr Masliza Mahmod.
The discussion touched on several topics, including challenges facing healthcare systems around the world and research collaboration across borders.