Dr Sim (third left) visiting one of the booths set up at the conference. – Photo by Aliah Abdullah
KUCHING (Aug 6): Affordable and accessible healthcare must become a national priority as rising treatment costs and unequal access continue to widen Malaysia’s healthcare gap, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.
The Public Health, Housing and Local Government Minister stressed that quality healthcare should not be measured solely by medical advancements, but by whether people can afford treatment and access essential healthcare services.
“Even if you go to a general hospital for cancer treatment today, you may be asked to buy certain medicines outside the hospital, and these medicines are not cheap,” he said at the 5th International BioHealth Science Conference (IBSC) 2026 here on Thursday.
Recalling his late mother’s journey in battling colon cancer, Dr Sim shared that her medication cost more than RM10,000 a month.
“She could afford to pay, but how many people can afford RM10,000 every month? Those who do not have money cannot even afford RM1,000 or RM2,000. These are the issues that government policies need to address,” he said.
Dr Sim said innovation, research and digital healthcare must ultimately improve health outcomes and ensure equitable access to quality care, particularly for people living in rural and remote areas.
“Technology alone is not enough. Research alone is not enough.
“True progress happens when scientific discoveries are translated into accessible healthcare, equitable services, and a better quality of life for all communities, including those in rural and remote areas,” he said.
He also urged elected representatives to prioritise developing sound healthcare policies and remain focused on their responsibilities.
“The goal was for Malaysia to spend five per cent of GDP (gross domestic product) on healthcare. Until today, however, we are still struggling.
“Our population is ageing, and everyone is spending more on healthcare.
“If we are not healthier than the rest of the world, then why are we not investing more in healthcare?” he asked.
Also present were Sarawak deputy health director Dr Azlee Ayub and Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Cancer Centre director at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Assoc Prof Dr Bakiah Shaharuddin.
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