Kuala Lumpur: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has announced the formation of a joint ministerial committee aimed at addressing the rising costs of healthcare, which is one of the most pressing challenges facing ordinary Malaysians.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the committee will include representatives from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Health, and Bank Negara Malaysia. Its primary goal is to ensure that quality healthcare remains both affordable and accessible to all citizens. Anwar highlighted that the increasing inaccessibility of private healthcare, due to escalating medical costs, is not just an economic issue but also a matter of national well-being.

In his keynote address at the Sasana Symposium 2025, Anwar emphasized the need for a fundamental shift towards a value-based private healthcare system that prioritizes outcomes, transparency, and fairness. Key reforms under consideration include clearer pricing structures, stronger digital healthcare systems, and expanded access through affordable options such as universal-based medical insurance products.

The Prime Minister made it clear that these reform efforts are not cosmetic but structural, guided by compassion, sound policy, and the needs of the rakyat. He assured that he would personally oversee the implementation of these reforms to make healthcare a pillar of national resilience.