Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz has denied claims that public health allocations had been reduced under Budget 2021 when compared to last year.
He said no area of healthcare allocation had been reduced adding it was only a matter of some items being reclassified under the federal estimated expenditure document.
"Fact, the allocation for medical supplies and consumables amounting to RM4.29 billion has been allocated and classified under code 080000 (Specific Programmes).
"These include Government Supply of Public Medical Facilities of RM2.89 billion and Medicinal & Laboratory supplies of RM1.4 billion.
"This is why the total allocation under code 020000 (Medical) shows a ‘reduction’ from RM14.2 billion (2020) to RM11.3 billion (2021).
"These details contain provisions for various areas of healthcare including nephrology and pharmacy. Fact, no area of healthcare has had its allocation reduced," he said in a Facebook post tonight.
Former health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad earlier today said that after deducting the RM1.9 billion emolument for contractual employees, the real allocation for the Health Ministry was RM30.04 billion, compared to RM30.6 billion in 2020.
The reported cuts include medical programmes, public health, dental health, pharmaceutical services as well as research and technical support.
Zafrul, in his post tonight, said the government had allocated RM24 million to address mental health issues through the enhancement of the Mental Health Programme, Prevention of Physical Abuse and Substance Abuse.
He added that the government had also made several allocations that were not listed in the federal estimated expenditure, but were instead allocated separately under the Covid-19 Fund.
This includes RM475 million for the supply of reagents and consumables needed in relation to Covid-19; RM318 million for the provision of PPE equipment and hand sanitisers for frontline staff and RM150 million to the National Disaster Management Agency to coordinate efforts to combat Covid-19.
"(And) RM50 million for procurement of equipment, laboratory test supplies and medicines at the teaching university hospitals as well as additional equipment for running dental facilities, virtual clinic services, health screening zone facilities and thermometers at health facilities to fulfil the new norm SOPs," said Zafrul. - Mkini
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