KUALA LUMPUR: A new partnership initiative will be introduced involving collaboration with government-linked investment companies (GLICs) to provide affordable paid healthcare services to patients.
"The implementation will start at five Health Ministry hospitals with high demand and suitable infrastructure, such as Cyberjaya Hospital, with an initial allocation of RM25 million," said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the tabling of the 2025 Budget (Belanjawan 2025).
"The government is also strengthening partnerships with 91 private hospitals to source patients from the Health Ministry for services such as cardiology, radiology, and nephrology.
"This approach indirectly creates a competitive element to secure the best prices for the government. The outsourcing will also continue with the National Heart Institute for heart patients among government retirees," he said.
In addition, the government will implement an offtake policy or specific procurement from companies making new domestic investments to produce critical pharmaceutical products and medical devices.
"This approach not only supports the security of drug supply from local sources but also has the potential to reduce costs in the medium term," he said.