KUALA LUMPUR: People suffering from autoimmune diseases in Malaysia are hopeful that the government will consider a special RM20 million allocation in the upcoming 2025 Budget.
Arthritis Foundation Malaysia and Psoriasis Association Malaysia representative Sofia Lovi Ramasamy said autoimmune diseases, categorised as non-communicable diseases, are on the rise in the country.
She said conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis affected three to five per cent of Malaysians.
As such, she said, it was hoped that the government will allocate RM20 million in the upcoming budget to improve access to targeted therapies, particularly for the B40 group, through public hospitals.
"Earlier this month, we submitted a formal proposal to the Finance Ministry as part of the national budget discussions, requesting the inclusion of a dedicated budget allocation to make targeted therapies, including biologics and small molecules, more accessible for autoimmune patients.
"This effort is driven by the recognition that currently less than two per cent of psoriatic patients in public hospitals are receiving biologics, an effective treatment option that can transform the quality of life for many patients.
"Through these targeted therapies, we also hope to prevent or mitigate comorbidities such as heart issues, metabolic syndrome, and other related conditions that often accompany autoimmune diseases," said Sofia.
She said they had also highlighted their appeal with Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad on Sept 9.
The proposal also includes expanding the national formulary to include biologic products, ensuring cost-effective alternatives are available for patients, and establishing a government-industry-patient mechanism under the leadership of the Health Ministry to manage the biologics programme and explore additional strategies for its effectiveness.
In the last budget, the Health Ministry received the largest allocation increase, getting RM41.2 billion.
Of the total, RM5.5 billion was to be used to procure medicine supplies, consumables, reagents, and vaccines.
The allocation also included costs to upgrade dilapidated clinics and fund new development projects.