KUALA LUMPUR: Healthcare stakeholders are hopeful that the 2025 Budget will address ongoing challenges in the sector, focusing on new on-call rates, addressing the shortage of experts, and continuing efforts to increase funding allocations.
They urge the Madani government to address these issues promptly to improve and maintain the sustainability of the national healthcare system.
A spokesman for Kumpulan Hartal Doktor Kontrak (HDK), representing contract doctors, Dr Muhammad Yassin, highlighted the pressing need for a revised on-call duty allowance, which directly affects healthcare workers' welfare.
He noted that the current rates, last reviewed in 2012, no longer align with rising living costs and emphasized the importance of avoiding a migration of doctors to the private sector, which could compromise the public healthcare system.
Dr Muhammad shared that the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) is advocating for increased on-call duty allowances, recommending a rate of RM25 per hour for medical officers and RM30 per hour for specialists.
He described healthcare spending as an essential investment for the country's future.
"The imbalance in the doctor-to-patient ratio needs urgent attention," he added, calling for more funding to upgrade outdated public health facilities, particularly in Sabah and Sarawak, to prevent a widening health gap. He also emphasized the need for special allowances for healthcare workers in rural areas.
MMA president Datuk Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira expressed hope for more Special Appointments for Incumbents (KUP) at Special Grade C in the 2025 Budget, noting the last such appointments were made in 2012. He stated that about 100 senior doctors achieved UD56 status in 2017 but have since been stuck at the scale.
"MMA also emphasises the need for the overall allocation in health to reach at least 5% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP)," he said.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society (MPS) president Prof Amrahi Buang stressed the urgent need for increased public-private partnership efforts to enhance healthcare service delivery nationwide. He highlighted the government's role in supporting the Ubat@Komuniti pilot project in Penang and advocated for its expansion to Sabah, Sarawak, and other regions.
Additionally, he urged the government to allocate more resources to the primary care sector, focusing on preventive and promotive health measures, and improving health literacy, especially regarding the use of medicines.
The 2025 Budget, themed "Madani Economy, Prosperous Nation, Well-being of the People,' will be tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Oct 18 in Parliament. – Bernama
