KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia spends huge sums to treat non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with the country spending nearly RM10bil in 2017, says Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa.
She revealed that RM9.65bil was spent that year for the matter, which takes up 16.8% of the total healthcare expenditure in Malaysia. This figure was based on the government’s expenditure in 2017, with the details contained in a 2022 report titled “The Direct Health-Care Cost of Non-Communicable Disease in Malaysia” by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Health Ministry.
As much as RM4.38bil was spent on treating diabetes alone, making up 45.38% of the ministry’s total expenditure for treating NCDs, followed by RM3.93bil on treating cardiovascular diseases (40.73%), while another RM1.34bil went to cancer treatment.
“This includes hospital admissions, primary care at healthcare clinics and outpatient treatment at hospitals, alongside healthcare checks and purchasing medicine,” she said during Minister question time in Parliament yesterday.
Dr Zaliha said the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2019 found some 50% of Malaysians had at least one NCD.
The prevalence of diabetes in Malaysia was also the highest in South-East Asia, with a stark increase from 11.2% in 2011 to 18.3% in 2019. She said the National Diabetes Registry Report 2020 found that 10.6% of diabetic patients had eyesight issues, 5.86% have cardiovascular disease and 1.79% had a stroke.
“Some 65% of individuals requiring dialysis treatment were also diabetic,” Dr Zaliha said, in reference to the strategic plan to reduce chronic kidney disease report.
Dr Zaliha added that a comprehensive action plan was among the measures towards tackling NCDs in Malaysia.
“Community empowerment programmes are also carried out to educate the public on leading healthy lifestyles. Advocacy programmes are similarly carried out at all layers of society,” she said.
Another measure was increasing the excise duty of sugary drinks to 50sen per litre as announced in Budget 2024.
“Returns from the excise duty will be channelled back to the Health Ministry to treat diabetic patients and support haemodialysis centres,” she said.
Dr Zaliha was responding to a question by Dr Kelvin Yii Lee (PH-Bandar Kuching), who asked about the cost spent in treating NCDs, especially diabetes and the government’s plans to tackle its prevalence.
In a supplementary question, Dr Yii asked about the ministry’s efforts in educating the public on excessive sugar consumption.
“We’re the sweetest nation in South-East Asia but we shouldn’t be proud of that statistic,” he said.
To this, Dr Zaliha said the government was set to launch a sugar advocacy plan in the near future as a means to tackle NCDs, especially diabetes. She said the plan covers all age groups, beginning with students from preschools to higher education institutions, adults at the workplace as well as senior citizens.
“It will see participation from NGOs, parent groups and state representative and MP offices,” she said.
The ministry, Dr Zaliha said, was in the final phases of engagements with trader associations in offering sugarless drinks to consumers.
“This can help in our advocacy plans to reduce sugar consumption among Malaysians,” she said.
The Health Minister also stressed that the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023 would be tabled during the current Parliament sitting that is scheduled to end on Nov 30. She said more than RM6bil was spent on treating smoking-related ailments in 2022.
“God willing, we will resolve this and before this session ends, we will table the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023 for its second reading. Pray that we can resolve it quickly and move forward to make our country smoke-free,” Dr Zaliha said.
