MP SPEAKS The 2016 Budget is a sad manifestation of the government’s lack of concern for women. While the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) gets an increase of about RM1.1 billion in allocation, two key women’s health-related items were cut 100 percent off the budget.
In 2015, total allocation for both programmes were cut 90 percent from RM20 million a year to a mere RM2 million and next year, even the pittance RM2 million for women’s health will be scrapped.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer while cervical cancer is third most common cancer among women in Malaysia
According to the health minister’s answer to my parliamentary question on Nov 5, 2015, breast cancer is the most frequently occurring cancer among Malaysians, regardless of gender. From the latest data available, there were 3209 cases of breast cancer diagnosed and reported to the National Cancer Registry in just one year in 2008.
According to the same ministerial reply, cervical cancer is the third most common cancer among women in Malaysia, with 845 cases reported in one year in 2008.
The National Population and Family Development Board’s (LPPKN) mammogram programme was highly popular and helped 263,627 women with early detection of breast cancer
Deputy Health Minister Dr Hilmi Yahaya, in responding to my supplementary question, replied that through the mammogram programme by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, women can receive free or subsidised mammogram screening at 62 government-run Klinik Nur Sejahtera as well as 62 private mammography centres nationwide registered under the LPPKN.
Without the subsidy, a typical mammogram screening will cost about RM100.
Under the programme, 263,627 women were screened with about 10 percent of them, or 24,980 referred for further examination.
This shows that the mammogram programme is highly popular and relevant and has helped a significant number of women in early detection to fight breast cancer.
Why scrap such critical programmes?
Hence, it does not make sense that such critical women’s health programmes are being scrapped without explanation. We are talking about life and death issue here.
In fact at the end of 2013, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rohani Abdul Karim (
photo
) appealed to the cabinet to
continue the mammogram programme
due to its wide outreach and the importance of early detection.
During the 2015 Budget debate, I had already voiced out my disappointment that allocation for these programmes were cut 90 percent, this year the situation not only has not improved but has taken a worse turn with a 100 percent budget cut.
Therefore, I urge the federal government to reinstate these two programmes with a reasonable allocation to sustain it. The money for these critical programmes can come from the billions of ringgit slush fund in the PMO.
Rohani Abdul Karim as the Minister-in-charge must come out to assure Malaysians that these programmes will continue in 2016.
Additionally, a thorough annual report on the programmes should be published to enable better assessment of the programmes.
STEVEN SIM CHEE KEONG is the MP for Bukit Mertajam; deputy spokesperson, DAP Parliamentary Committees for Human Resources, and Women and Welfare; and member, Penang state government’s Women, Family and Community Development Committee.
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