SPECIAL REPORT Across Malaysia, there are approximately 139 public hospitals under the auspices of the Health Ministry.

According to statistics, the number of beds can range from as low as 28 - at the Hospital Sultanah Hajjah Kalsom in Cameron Highlands - to as many as over 2,000 at the General Hospital in Kuala Lumpur.

Some of these hospitals are now more than 100 years old.

Over the years, a growing population has led to rising demand for good yet affordable healthcare, which in turn has placed increasing pressure on the public healthcare system.

Coupled with austerity measures under the recalibrated Budget 2016, where the government slashed expenditure by RM9 billion, even the Health Ministry is affected...