The Health | november, 2019
08
ISSUE: BUDGET 2020
List of notable allocations
for public healthcare for
2020:
1.6
billion for the
Ü RM
construction of new hospitals as
well as expanding and upgrading
existing ones
319
million for
Ü RM
the construction and upgrading
of health and dental clinics, as
well as quarters facility in Kedah,
Pahang, Sabah, and Sarawak.
227
million to
Ü RM
upgrade medical equipment in
hospitals.
95
million
Ü RM
for renovation of medical
infrastructure and facilities.
60
Ü RM
million to
provide children below two years
of age with pneumococcal
vaccination.
59
Continuing towards
better healthcare
The Malaysian government has taken considerable steps in healthcare
according to this year’s budget announcement
T
he overall allocation for healthcare
was announced to be at RM30.6
billion, an increase of RM1.9
billion compared to last year.
The allocation to the Ministry of
Health is geared more towards
prevention of diseases, as assured by the
Minister of Finance Lim Guan Eng.
“The government remains committed to
ensure access to quality healthcare for all, as
part of its aspiration to create an inclusive
Malaysian society. We will allocate resources
to intensify preventative measures to
manage the burden on public healthcare
expenses,” says Lim.
The authority has been listening
What strikes us the most for this year’s
budget are the comments heard by profes-
sionals among the healthcare sector, in that
they are saying the government is finally
listening to the needs of the people.
To quote Dr M Murallitharan, Medical
Director of the National Cancer Society Malay-
sia (NCSM) in his opinion piece published in a
local news site: “The other piece of news that
really pleased those of us in the healthcare
sector was the fact that the budget showed
how the government has really bothered to
listen to the input of the people.”
He speaks about a few things the govern-
ment has done right in this year’s budget
for healthcare - particularly in the pneumo-
coccal vaccination, centralising medicine
purchases across ministries of health and
Dr Murallitharan of
NCSM praises this
year’s budget for
healthcare as it shows
that the government
is putting emphasis
on the needs of the
people.
Budget 2020 for
healthcare takes a
more preventative
approach to diseases
and patient care,
according to Lim Guan
Eng.
Although quite
comprehensive, Lee
Lam Thye admits
that there is still a
gap in mental health
support shown by
the government in
the tabling of the
healthcare budget.
million for the
Ü RM
acquisition of more ambulances,
in collaboration with non-
governmental organisation for
medical ambulance services.
31
million for
Ü RM
upgrading and maintenance
of ICT services, including pilot
project for hospital electronic
medical records.
Ü Coverage of
45
diseases from the
existing 36 diseases, raising the
eligibility from 55-65 years, and
covering those with gross annual
income up to RM100,000 (M40
group) for the MySalam scheme.
defence and university hospitals, and the
adjustments made for the two health-centric
social protection schemes, MySalam and
PekaB40.
A gap still left unfilled
On the other side of the spectrum, the allo-
cation made for Malaysia’s public healthcare
has a gap in it still unfulfilled.
According to social activist Tan Sri Lee
Lam Thye, there is still no active efforts
made towards improving the mental health
support among Malaysians.
Lee expressed through media that the
Ministry of Health should be allocated
more to develop better mental health
support.
Lee is also of the view to have more sub-
stance rehabilitation centres dealing with
mental health caused by synthetic drugs be
built, encourage mental health personnel
to work in rural areas through incentives
and encourage them to further their study,
and also to have more programmes held at
hospitals, schools, and other premises to
help increase mental health awareness.
In the right direction
With all said and done, the move by the
government for healthcare budget alloca-
tion puts many at ease. The pneumococcal
vaccine allocation especially provided a
sigh of relief for many healthcare providers
advocating it over the many years.
Our healthcare is still in need of many
improvements. Therefore, to see this much
of an effort in improving it means things can
only get better in the year ahead. Hopefully.
— The Health