Kuala Lumpur:The upcoming Budget 2027 should place greater emphasis on disease prevention, health education, and fostering a stronger health culture, with a focus on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and lifestyle risk factors as the core of healthcare reform.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Datuk Dr. Kuljit Singh, President of the Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM), highlighted that a significant portion of NCD patients, including those with type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and obesity, are heavily influenced by lifestyle, diet, and environmental factors. These factors can be prevented, delayed, or managed more effectively.
Dr. Kuljit suggested that unhealthy options should no longer be the easy or affordable choice for Malaysians. He also emphasized the need to consider recommendations from the independent policy research and advocacy organization, Galen Centre, such as abolishing sugar subsidies and implementing stronger fiscal measures to prevent unhealthy dietary patterns.
He advocated for the government to redirect resources towards making healthier choices more accessible and affordable. This could include subsidies for fresh fruits and vegetables, whole and minimally processed foods, community exercise programs, and nutrition education.
The budget presents an opportunity to actively build a 'health culture' in Malaysia, integrating healthy behaviors into daily life rather than relying solely on individual efforts. Similar approaches should be applied to screening and early detection, with targeted subsidies and public funding making NCD screenings and preventive care more accessible, especially for those who may delay treatment due to cost constraints.
Dr. Kuljit also pointed out that people should not be deterred from seeking early diagnosis for fear of its impact on insurance coverage, employment, or other life aspects.
Concerning healthcare delivery, he mentioned that continued support for the Hospital Services Outsourcing Program could alleviate capacity constraints in the public healthcare system by allowing public hospitals to outsource selected cases to private service providers.
He added that private hospitals have proposed prioritizing the digitization of the licensing process by the Private Medical Practice Control Branch (CKAPS) to enhance regulatory efficiency and reduce administrative delays.
Additionally, Dr. Kuljit recommended maintaining funding for national healthcare institutions and key quality assurance bodies, such as the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC), Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC), and the Malaysian Society for Quality in Health (MSQH).
He concluded that making healthier choices the easier option would significantly reduce the burden and costs on the healthcare system in the long term.