MMA hopes for transparent health budget implementation

Health groups are welcoming the government’s proposed 11.5 percent increase in the health budget next year.

Nevertheless, Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai expressed hope that its implementation by the Health Ministry can be conducted transparently.

“The 11.5 percent increase in the National Health Budget for 2023, which is a significant improvement compared to Budget 2022, is indeed welcome news and a step in the right direction towards reforms needed in our healthcare system […]

“Going forward, MMA hopes there will be transparency in the utilisation of the various allocations under the Health Ministry,” he said in a statement tonight.

During Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz’s budget speech, the minister announced an RM36.139 billion budget for the Health Ministry.

This entails RM31.50 billion in operational expenditure and RM4.639 billion in development expenditure.

READ MORE: Budget 2023: the big picture

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the budget is a recognition of the importance of healthcare, in line with the government’s aspirations for a healthy and harmonious Keluarga Malaysia.

“The budget increase is among the largest among ministries when compared to the overall RM372.3 billion Budget 2023 allocations, which is 11.05 percent.

“The increased allocation for the Health Ministry under Budget 2023 is a much-needed investment to ensure Keluarga Malaysia remains healthy, has access to quality healthcare, and goes on to contribute to the nation’s economic development.

The ministry’s director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the RM4 billion increase compared to last year’s budget will help improve health clinics and rural clinics.

“The additional allocation of RM4 billion compared to 2022 is much anticipated to replace and repair dilapidated health and rural clinics,” he said in a Facebook post.

Meanwhile, Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia president Kuljit Singh said his group is happy with the various incentives in the budget for patients seeking health services at public hospitals.

“We from the association of private hospitals Malaysia are happy that there are a lot of incentives and budgets for patients seeking treatment at public hospitals.

“Though there are no incentives for private hospitals to help the public hospitals, we will continue to assist in whichever way we can,” he said in a statement.

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