MALAYSIA’S budget for healthcare is 3% lower than the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendation and needs to be raised, said a consultant.

InfoMed chief executive officer Mohan Manthiry said the nation’s current budget for healthcare was 4% of the gross domestic product, and the government must spend more to provide quality care especially in public hospitals.

“The general population, where a majority are hard-pressed by inflation, are now flocking to government hospitals.

“Malaysians can’t afford proper healthcare because of stagnant salaries, poor revenues and negative growth.

“The government needs to provide more services, improve facilities and reduce congestion.

“To do this effectively, the government needs to allocate more funds for healthcare,” he said after speaking at the Malaysian Insurance Institute on Medical Health and Insurance Seminar today.

It was reported that the Health Ministry would seek a bigger allocation under Budget 2018 due to increasing medical costs.

Its minister, Dr S. Subramaniam, said the RM23 billion allocated for this year was insufficient, which prompted the ministry’s request for an increased allocation.

He said the ministry was committed to providing the people with quality healthcare.

Budget 2018 will be unveiled in Parliament on October 27. In past budgets, the ministry had received between 10% and 15% more in the annual allocation.

Mohan said according to WHO, the recommended budget for healthcare in Malaysia should be 7%.

“Malaysia’s current budget (for healthcare) is 4% of GDP. Singapore, whose healthcare is among the best in the world, is only spending 5% of its GDP, and is still able to provide quality healthcare.

“This is because the funds have to be efficiently utilised. Otherwise, quality healthcare is not going to be felt by the public.”

Mohan said the healthcare sector should be geared towards prevention and enhancing the education system to reduce incidences of chronic diseases.

“There is a worrying trend in non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes and obesity. This is something we should focus on, which is consuming most of the resources in healthcare.”

WHO had stated that almost 70% of the global mortality rate was due to such diseases, he said, adding that in Malaysia, the number of patients was on the rise, with the country being No. 1 in diabetes and obesity in the region.

“To manage this, we need to get individuals to take charge. We cannot leave it to the government, doctors and hospitals.

“This has got to do with lifestyle, and one of the major causes is the food we eat.

“We need to have a long-term plan, and I have been advocating the need for education in healthcare.”

Mohan said it was crucial for healthcare to be taught as a subject at the primary school level.

“It should be in the curriculum, where children are taught everything in healthcare and matters related to health, from food and the environment to exercising.

“Such education should start at home, but it’s not happening. So, it has to become part of formal education.

“It is good if this can be implemented in primary schools. Then, the government would not have to spend so much money (in its healthcare budget) because it’s part of the curriculum.” – September 26, 2017.