KUALA LUMPUR: The proposed increase for public health spending will be discussed during the tabling of the White Paper on Health in Parliament next month, says Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa.
She said the ministry would continue the discussion with the Finance Ministry for allocation to the Health Ministry to be increased to up to five per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
"Now, it is 2.9 per cent (of the GDP), and if we compare our country with other middle-income countries our equivalent countries, which are middle-income countries, they are already at a rate of up to five per cent (of their GDP),” she told a press conference here on Thursday (May 11).
Earlier, Dr Zaliha opened the CRM (Clinical Research Malaysia) Trial Connect 2023 programme which was held in conjunction with the Clinical Research Day 2023.
Meanwhile, Dr Zaliha said Malaysia was ready to carry out its First-in-Human clinical research at two certified locations, namely Sarawak General Hospital and Ampang Hospital.
"We have the facilities and we also have discipline when we carry out the research and this actually attracts the interest of many companies to do First-in-Human (clinical trial) in Malaysia,” she added.
The event was also attended by Health Director-General Datuk Dr Muhammad Radzi, Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian and CRM chief executive officer Dr Akhmal Yusof.
Regarding Thursday’s programme, Dr Zaliha said it was to showcase the country's achievement and capabilities in sponsored research.
"In the last decade, sponsored research has brought in more than RM1bil of clinical research contract value, created 2,700 skilled jobs in clinical research and delivered over 2,000 sponsored research," she said.- Bernama
