Kuala lumpur: Malaysia must undertake bold healthcare financing reforms and digital transformation to future-proof its public health system in the face of rising demand, escalating costs and fiscal constraints, says Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad. Dzulkefly stressed that while Malaysia’s tax-funded healthcare system had long served the nation well, the country now stood at a critical crossroads, grappling with the dual burden of non-communicable and infectious diseases, overcrowded facilities, and a shortage of healthcare personnel.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dzulkefly emphasized that the nation is currently in distress due to over a decade of underspending in health, as highlighted by the Treasury. He posed the question of not just preserving the system, but how to transform and future-proof it to meet these challenges. Dzulkefly was speaking as a panellist at the ‘Ilmuwan Malaysia Madani’ Forum Series 7, held at M Resort and Hotel, where Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir was also present. The forum, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, was themed ‘Towards a Sustainable Healthcare System for All.’
Dzulkefly further explained that under the Malaysia MADANI vision, the Health Ministry is prioritising healthcare financing and digitalisation, alongside initiatives to address human resource shortages. The vision calls for humanising governance to place compassion, inclusivity, and dignity at the centre of every policy and programme. He stated that healthcare should be recognised as a human right and the foundation of a just, productive, and prosperous MADANI society.
He acknowledged the difficulty of proposing an additional one per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) for healthcare, as such an increase would significantly affect the allocations of other ministries. Given these constraints, Dzulkefly mentioned the need to be resourceful in retaining specialists, investing in public healthcare facilities and services, and most importantly, enhancing human resources. Through the Health Transformation Office (HPO), the ministry is working on diversifying income to address these challenges.