With Budget 2023 set to be re-tabled tomorrow, Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said they had earlier submitted a list of six initiatives to be considered by the Finance Ministry to be included in the fiscal plan.
Topping the Health Ministry’s request is increasing their allocation in line with other countries’ spending on healthcare, she said today, while wrapping up for her ministry following the debates on the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s parliamentary address.
Aside from their request for a general increase to their allocation, the six initiatives the Health Ministry has proposed to the Finance Ministry are as follows:
Living with Covid-19
As the threat of Covid-19 still exists, Zaliha said the ministry has requested for allocation to procure reagents and consumables for the use of laboratory and health facilities.
She said they would also like more funding to procure medicines for Covid-19, antivirals and personal protective equipment (PPE).
This initiative would also include outsourcing patient treatment to private health facilities, she added.
Improving the ministry’s service and facilities
The Health Ministry has also proposed a specific allocation for the upgrading of operating theatres in government hospitals throughout the country.
Zaliha also said that more than half of the 3,119 health clinics in the country are more than 50 years old or are in a dilapidated state.
“A huge part of those have structures built with wood. Hence, the ministry requested the Finance Ministry to consider allocation for upgrading works,” she said.
Digitalisation of the healthcare system
In order to achieve optimum service delivery, the country’s healthcare system must be supported by a solid and up-to-date digital infrastructure, Zaliha said.
As such, the ministry would like to improve the digital capacity of all the ministry’s facilities, she said.
Improving ministry’s preparedness level in facing disasters
The Health Ministry is among the first responders in any disaster.
In order to improve the ministry’s preparedness in disaster management, Zaliha said they need a specific allocation to improve the capacity of their responder teams.
“This will be able to reduce the mortality and morbidity rate among victims of disasters,” she said.
Mental health services, psychosocial support and the National Centre of Excellence for Mental Health (NCEMH)
Mental health issues must not be shunned by the Health Ministry, Zaliha said.
The ministry plays a huge role involving national coordination for mental health, in terms of prevention, advocacy, resource sharing, research, monitoring and surveillance, she said.
“The ministry has proposed a specific allocation that will facilitate the implementation of advocacy, training, screening and mental health intervention programmes, the operation of the NCEMH as well as the strengthening of collaboration with NGOs and mental health research,” she said.
Initiating cooperation between Health Ministry and private clinics to relieve congestion at the ministry’s facilities
The Health Ministry has suggested closer cooperation with private clinics to treat “green case” patients, especially in areas where government health facilities are often congested.
“The Ministry hopes these suggestions will be considered by the Finance Ministry and InsyaAllah, hopefully, they will be included in the budget which will be tabled by the prime minister tomorrow,” Zaliha said.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who also holds the finance portfolio, will be tabling Budget 2023 in the Dewan Rakyat tomorrow evening. - Mkini
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