KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- The increased allocation for healthcare under Budget 2027 must be followed by effective measures to speed up access to treatment, reduce waiting times and ensure more equitable access to healthcare facilities.
Public health expert Assoc. Prof Dr Rosliza Abdul Manaf of Universiti Putra Malaysia’s (UPM) Department of Community Health said the progress of the national healthcare system should not be measured solely by increased allocations or advanced technology, but by how far such investments ensured equitable service delivery.
She also welcomed the government's announcement that more than 9,000 contract doctors would be offered permanent appointments in 2027 to strengthen the capacity and continuity of public healthcare services.
Commenting on Budget 2027, tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the Dewan Rakyat today, she said the distribution of healthcare personnel must take into account disease burdens and local needs to ensure areas facing medical staff shortages also benefited.
“Greater attention must be given to a more equitable distribution of healthcare personnel based on service needs and the disease burden of the population. This is important to ensure that rural and remote areas, as well as facilities facing medical staff shortages, also benefit from the increase,” she told Bernama.
On the introduction of the MediAsas scheme, Rosliza described it as an approach to encourage shared responsibility in financial protection, but cautioned that its implementation must ensure premiums remained affordable without compromising the adequacy of people's retirement savings.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said in a Facebook post that the Health Ministry was committed to translating its allocation into excellent service delivery that would benefit all segments of society.
“Health is the greatest investment after faith. Every valuable sen will be put to the best possible use for the health and well-being of all Malaysians under the MADANI Government,” he said.
The Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM), meanwhile, welcomed the government's initiative to strengthen cooperation between the public and private sectors for patients' benefit, particularly by reducing treatment waiting times through increased allocations for outsourcing patients to private facilities.
Its president, Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh, said the collaboration would enable existing facility capacity and medical expertise to be utilised optimally to speed up diagnosis and treatment, particularly for patients requiring urgent intervention, such as those with cancer.
“APHM welcomes the government's healthcare initiatives announced under Budget 2027, particularly those that strengthen cooperation between the public and private sectors for the benefit of patients.
“What matters most is not the size of the budget increase but the outcomes for patients. APHM stands ready to work closely with the Health Ministry and other stakeholders to translate these measures into tangible improvements on the ground,” he said.
When tabling Budget 2027 today, Anwar announced an allocation of RM47.7 billion for the Health Ministry and reaffirmed the government's commitment to ending the contract doctor issue by offering more permanent positions to them.
Since 2023, the MADANI Government has appointed more than 15,000 contract doctors to permanent posts, including 4,000 this year.
“In 2027, more than 9,000 contract doctors will be offered permanent posts. This means that, from then on, doctors who successfully complete their housemanship will be offered permanent medical officer positions,” Anwar said.
-- BERNAMA
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