Optimise allocations to benefit rakyat, state govts told

 

Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa has reminded state governments to ensure Health Ministry allocations under Budget 2023 are used optimally to meet the needs of the people.

“Under Budget 2023, the Health Ministry received the second largest increase in allocations in line with the government’s wish to ensure the continuity of public health services.

“I would like to stress here that the allocations set by the unity government are done after a detailed study of the needs and interests of the people in each state in line with the concept of Malaysia Madani,” she said in a statement today.

Yesterday, Zaliha chaired her first meeting with state government health committee chairpersons at the ministry’s headquarters.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, when tabling Budget 2023 on Feb 24, said the Health Ministry received the second largest allocation with an increase of 12 percent to RM36.3 billion from RM32.4 billion last year.

Zaliha said yesterday’s meeting also discussed important issues on the Health White Paper, Health Ministry expenditure and development projects, as well as the Agenda Nasional Malaysia Sihat plan.

As such, she urged the state health committee chairpersons to play an active role in ensuring the tabling of the Health White Paper can be realised.

“I also hope that this meeting will be used as a platform, as a catalyst to improve the delivery of health services to create a healthy and prosperous Malaysia Madani society,” she said.

She said the meeting also proved the government’s commitment to improving the quality of health service delivery in each state, as well as being a platform to present specific information for discussions and decision-making.

- Bernama