Kuala Lumpur: Chief Secretary to the Government (KSN) Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar today reiterated the need for Malaysia’s healthcare system to remain resilient and prepared for potential threats, while exploring innovative financing models through public-private partnerships.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Shamsul Azri highlighted that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim emphasised the importance of prioritising the welfare of healthcare workers alongside systemic reforms during the 8th Malaysian Social Protection Council (MySPC) meeting for 2025.

“The transformation of the national healthcare system and the issues and challenges of an ageing population were the key topics discussed this morning. The Prime Minister, who chaired today’s meeting, stressed the necessity of reviewing fiscal positions regarding healthcare allocations,” Shamsul Azri stated in a Facebook post.

He further revealed statistics indicating that the proportion of Malaysians aged 65 and above has reached seven per cent of the population, categorising the nation as an ageing nation. “The MADANI government will therefore focus on health financing, social protection systems, and retirement ecosystems,” he added.

Anwar, who also serves as the Finance Minister, mentioned that the government is currently reviewing the need to restructure the existing healthcare financing system to make it more sustainable, inclusive, and effective in the long term, as outlined in the Health White Paper. He underscored the importance of effective governance, procurement, and multi-ministerial coordination, especially between the Economy Ministry and Finance Ministry.

Today’s MySPC meeting, attended by six Cabinet ministers and senior civil servants, reviewed phased healthcare financing transformation plans and proposals for a National Health Fund. Discussions also covered the National Ageing Action Plan 2025-2045 presented by the Economy Ministry.