KUALA LUMPUR – The Ministry of Health (MOH) has been allocated a 9% budget increase for the coming year, but concerns remain as the growth falls short compared to Budget 2024 and remains well below the 5% GDP benchmark set for upper-middle-income countries.
Senator Dr. RA Lingeshwaran urged the MOH to prioritize the implementation of the Health White Paper, particularly focusing on health financing, one of its four key pillars.
A significant portion of the budget RM 1.35 billion has been designated to upgrade outdated healthcare facilities, including century-old hospitals in states like Penang.
“In my home state of Penang, four of six public hospitals are over 100 years old, some of which could be considered museum-grade. These facilities urgently need repairs to provide proper healthcare services,” said Dr. Lingeshwaran.
He praised the continued funding to upgrade dilapidated clinics, particularly Klinik Desa, which has seen improvements over the past two years.
“This move will undoubtedly boost public confidence and improve healthcare-seeking behavior,” he added.
Dr. Lingeshwaran also weighed in on the excise duty on sugar-sweetened beverages, supporting the move but suggesting a more positive approach.
“Instead of punishing unhealthy behavior, I’d prefer incentivizing the public to stay healthy. Beverage companies should offer lower pricing for low-sugar or no-sugar options to truly drive change.”
The RM 25 million allocation for rare disease treatments was another welcome development, with Dr. Lingeshwaran emphasizing the need for tax breaks for companies that fund rare disease NGOs, who often battle these high-cost conditions with little support.
The Senator also backed initiatives such as Rakan KKM and outsourcing to address healthcare financing gaps, calling for their full support until a more sustainable model is implemented.
Additionally, Dr. Lingeshwaran applauded the more than 25% increase in on-call allowances for medical and dental officers, though he noted the overall quantum is still modest compared to the workload.
Finally, he celebrated the government’s autism initiatives under Budget 2025, describing the move as long-awaited and crucial for addressing gaps in care for autistic patients. -MalayaDailyToday
