PETALING JAYA: More healthcare personnel must be trained to address the lack of specialists in the country, says the Academy of Medicine of Malaysia (AMM).
The AMM said the current population-to-specialist ratio in Malaysia stood at 10,000:3.88, which was alarming, as the average population-to-specialist ratio by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) stood at 10,000:14.33 in 2020.
"Training of healthcare personnel needs to be enhanced to address the lack of specialists further as the country progresses to become an ageing nation, which will see an increase in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and further demand for a healthcare system that’s already strained," said AMM in a statement on Wednesday (June 14).
AMM, in responding to the tabling of the Health White Paper in Parliament on Tuesday (June 13), said inadequate medical and healthcare personnel, especially specialists, had led to long-waiting periods in public hospitals.
Malaysian Pharmacists Society president Amrahi Buang said the Health White Paper would be a progressive step towards ensuring a more accessible healthcare system for the rakyat, regardless of economic status.
He said that the paper was comprehensive enough and recognised the role of each stakeholder in the healthcare system.
"This will pave the way for a more integrated healthcare system in the future, especially in terms of access and affordability.
"Currently, the system is segregated into different financial capabilities. Only those who have extra money can visit private healthcare providers, this is not right."
Malaysian Private Hospitals Association president Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh said that they welcomed the White Paper because they can assist the government in managing patients waiting for treatment at public facilities.
"We will be happy to refine the details to make the entire process smooth and seamless," he said.
He also said that the government should support those unable to access the private sector through national insurance funding.
"Private healthcare in the white paper should augment public healthcare.
"Those who can afford private healthcare should continue seeking care at a competitive rate, but the public who cannot receive care early enough should get funded in the private sector by the government or some national insurance funding," Dr Kuljit added.
