Public hospitals have recorded a 14.6% rise in the number of schizophrenia patients in 2024 compared with 2021, says health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad.
Dzulkefly said the number of patients reported by government hospitals stood at 7,468 in 2022, a 3% rise from the preceding year.
This rose further to 8,481 patients in 2023 before declining slightly to 8,303 last year.
“The number of patients increased by 3% in 2022 compared with 2021, 17% in 2023 compared with 2021, and 14.6% in 2024 compared with 2021,” he said in a written parliamentary reply to Siti Mastura Muhammad (PN-Kepala Batas).
The minister said 59.1% of reported schizophrenia patients were Bumiputera, comprising 50.2% Malays, 2.3% Iban and 1.8% each Kadazan and Dusun.
Chinese patients meanwhile make up 24.4% followed by Indians at 5.8%.
“Treatment and rehabilitation of schizophrenia patients can be divided into pharmacological treatment (medication) and continuous rehabilitation as well as psychosocial support, including employment support.
“Schizophrenia patients can be treated as inpatients or outpatients. Those experiencing severe mental illness who require hospital admission will be treated with medicine and monitored in wards until their condition stabilises and they are able to return home.
“For patients with milder conditions, treatment can be provided on an outpatient basis at psychiatric clinics,” he said.
Dzulkefl said patients treated as outpatients still need follow-up treatments and clinics to boost their functions and ensure their independence.
