MALAYSIA is embarking on ambitious reforms to build a more resilient, equitable and future-ready healthcare system, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said.
Speaking at the Malaysian Medical Association annual banquet, held in conjunction with its 65th annual general meeting, on Saturday night, Dzulkefly outlined key pillars of the national healthcare reform agenda.
These include revamping healthcare financing, the Rakan KKM initiative to support Health Ministry hospitals and clinics and implementing the diagnosis-related group payment system by the middle of next year to curb spiralling medical costs.
He said a revamped basic medical and health insurance/takaful scheme, developed in collaboration with Bank Negara Malaysia and industry players, would provide improved coverage for the M40 group.
“The second is digitalisation, which has begun.
“About 200 clinics are using the cloud-based clinic management system, and nearly 15 hospitals will adopt electronic medical records in 2025, with 16 more to follow next year.”
Dzulkefly also addressed challenges in retaining medical professionals, adding that the cabinet had been briefed on consultation fees for private general practitioners and issues related to third-party administrators.
He said amendments to the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act, particularly the long-unrevised Seventh Schedule, were under discussion.
The schedule has remained unchanged since it was gazetted in 2006.
He said the healthcare system faced mounting pressures from a dual disease burden, an ageing population and medical inflation.
Non-communicable diseases cost Malaysia RM64.3 billion a year, covering treatment costs and indirect impacts, such as productivity loss and premature deaths. — BERNAMA
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