KJ calls for more effort to tell public about health plans

Devoting 5% of GDP on the health system will lead to less crowding and shorter waiting times, says former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

PETALING JAYA: Former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin has called for greater efforts to inform the public about the government’s policy paper on health which was approved by the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

He said the health white paper “remains largely unknown to the public”, as there was a lack of explanation to the people.

“By right, the paper should capture the imagination of the rakyat, as the health ministry is duty bound to educate the people on what this is about,” he said in his weekly Keluar Sekejap podcast.

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“I wish there was a better communications plan that involves more people. Most regular people I speak to are not aware of it,” he said.

Khairy Jamaluddin.

Khairy said the most significant point of the paper was about steering the country’s healthcare system to greater heights in the next 15 years.

He said the change will come if the government commits 5% of the gross domestic product in its yearly budget for healthcare, compared to 2.58% now.

He said the 5% mark was a minimum acceptable level for a middle-income country like Malaysia.

“Once we hit 5%, there will be visible improvements, shorter wait times, and less crowding. Waiting times to meet government specialists are so long, they are forced to go to private hospitals which are more expensive,” he said.

The health white paper was approved by the Dewan Rakyat, after a debate involving 28 MPs.

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The white paper sets out the challenges faced by the health system, as well as reforms to be implemented over the next 15 years.

He lauded the tabling of the health white paper, saying his successor Dr Zaliha Mustafa deserved praise and said he was proud that the paper, started while he was health minister, had been passed. - FMT