Kuala lumpur: Malaysia is embarking on a bold wave of healthcare reforms aimed at building a more resilient, equitable, and future-ready system, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad. Speaking at the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) annual banquet in conjunction with its 65th Annual General Meeting here last night, he outlined several key pillars of the national healthcare reform agenda.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the reforms include healthcare financing reform, the Rakan KKM initiative to enhance MOH hospitals and clinics for all Malaysians, and the implementation of the Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG) payment system by mid-2026 to address runaway medical inflation. A revamped basic Medical and Health Insurance/Takaful (MHIT) is being introduced in collaboration with Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and industry players to provide better coverage to the M40 population.

The Health Minister also highlighted a digitalisation programme that has already been rolled out, with about 200 clinics using a Cloud-Based Clinic Management System (CCMS). Nearly 15 hospitals are set to adopt Electronic Medical Records (EMR) in 2025, with 16 more hospitals to follow next year.

Dzulkefly acknowledged challenges in retaining medical professionals, including an acute shortage, while confirming that the Cabinet has been briefed on the consultation fees for private general practitioners (GPs) and third-party administrator (TPA) issues. Amendments to the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 (Act 586), specifically the Seventh Schedule, are under active discussion, as this segment has not been amended since it was gazetted in 2006.

Additionally, the Health Minister emphasized that the healthcare system faces challenges from rising dual disease burdens, an ageing population, and soaring medical inflation. The country spends some RM64.3 billion annually on non-communicable diseases (NCD) treatment, which includes direct and indirect costs such as loss of productivity and premature mortality.