File photo of hospital beds. – Bernama photo
KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 18): The Ministry of Health (MOH) received the second-highest allocation of RM45.3 billion next year, compared to RM41.2 billion this year, for the implementation of basic tasks, including ensuring quality, comfortable and people-friendly public healthcare service facilities.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that included the RM1.35 billion for the maintenance of healthcare infrastructure, including repairing dilapidated hospital wards and toilets.
The government has also allocated RM300 million for the upgrade of dilapidated clinics next year.
In support of the ‘war on sugar’, Anwar said the government planned to raise the rate of excise duties on sugary drinks by 40 sen a litre in stages from Jan 1, 2025.
“The additional funds collected will be used to cover public health expenses, including increasing the supply of SGLT-2 inhibitors for treating diabetes.
“(The additional funds will also be used to) provide Peritoneal Dialysis treatment for end-stage kidney disease to more patients, in addition to Felda, which is improving its dialysis centres,” he said when presenting Budget 2025 in the Dewan Rakyat today.
In addition, Anwar also announced an allocation of RM27 million in support of Agenda Nasional Malaysia Sihat, to further invigorate public sports and recreational activities, including organising the National Sports Day.
To ensure a more resilient, sustainable and self-sufficient public health service system, Anwar said the Rakan MOH initiative would be introduced, involving the collaboration of GLIC (government-linked investment companies) to provide paid health service options at affordable rates to patients.
“The government also increased cooperation with 91 private hospitals to outsource MOH patients for services like cardiology, radiology and nephrology.
“Outsourcing will be continued with the National Heart Institute (IJN) for government pensioners aged 65 and above,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister said the policy of offtake or special procurement from companies which make new domestic investments will be implemented to manufacture pharmaceutical products and critical medical devices.
Anwar also announced an allocation of RM100 million, including for the procurement of the latest equipment to strengthen the health centre of excellence that has been identified, in addition to ongoing preliminary work to establish a Cancer Centre in Kuching and a Heart Specialist Hospital in Kota Kinabalu. – Bernama
