Kuala lumpur: The federal government has allocated RM40 billion under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) 2026 to 2030 to implement wide-ranging reforms in the healthcare sector, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced today.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the healthcare reform agenda is a vital government initiative to ensure sustainable health financing while expanding access to quality and affordable healthcare services for all Malaysians. This agenda aims to increase service options for patients without compromising cost or quality.
To strengthen medical supply security, Anwar stated that domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing would be encouraged, with a significant increase in the use of generic medicines in both the public and private sectors. Additionally, pro-health taxes will be expanded from sugar to products such as tobacco, vape, and alcohol, not only for revenue but to encourage behavioral change and curb the rise in non-communicable diseases, which is of growing concern.
Another key objective of the reform, Anwar highlighted, is to reduce out-of-pocket healthcare expenses borne by citizens. Under the 13MP, more hospitals and clinics, including those in dilapidated conditions, will be built or upgraded to improve healthcare delivery nationwide. Major projects slated for development include Hospital Tuanku Ja'afar 2 in Seremban, Hospital Sultanah Aminah 2 in Johor Bahru, the Northern Region Cancer Centre in Sungai Petani, the Sabah Heart Centre at Hospital Queen Elizabeth II in Kota Kinabalu, and the Sarawak Cancer Centre.
To address long-standing workforce challenges, the government plans to introduce a national framework for health sector talent development. This includes initiatives covering pre-service training, licensing, recruitment, placement, and career development, all aimed at retaining and nurturing skilled professionals in the healthcare system.
Anwar also announced that health record management will be strengthened as part of the core strategy for digitising Malaysia's healthcare infrastructure. This will enhance interoperability between healthcare facilities and enable seamless patient data access. The digitisation push will also lay the groundwork for high-impact health analytics powered by artificial intelligence, further enhancing the quality and responsiveness of healthcare services in Malaysia.