DESPITE receiving the second largest allocation in Budget 2022, the Health Ministry’s RM32.4 billion share is barely an increase from 2021 and does not give attention to other critical health issues, the Galen Centre for Health & Social Policy said.

Its chief executive Azrul Mohd Khalib said the amount was an increase of only 1.6% compared to this year’s RM31.9 billion allocation, and is equivalent to 9.8% of the total Budget 2022 amount.

“We are disappointed that there has barely been an increase in the health budget allocation for 2022 compared to 2021. 

“Now is not the time to under-invest in health,” he told The Malaysian Insight. 

The Health Ministry’s share under Budget 2022 is the second largest allocation after the Education Ministry. 

Besides struggling with the Covid-19 epidemic, Azrul said the country is also facing other health crises which are less visible.

“The Covid-19 crisis is not over, but the health consequences due to the past 22 months (of the epidemic) such as deteriorating mental health, worsening non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and obesity are increasing and just beginning to be understood and unseen. 

“All these will need treatment and care. Covid-19 is not the only health crisis that Malaysia is experiencing,” he said.

Azrul also criticised the allocation given for mental health, saying more should have been provided. 

“Though mental health was highlighted prominently during the Budget speech, the fact is that the allocation for this important area of healthcare (RM319.5 million) still remains lower than was provided in 2020, which was RM344 million. 

“To deal with the consequences of the Covid-19 crisis such as depression, mental illness and suicide, more should have been provided as the majority of the population still depend on services provided through the public healthcare system.”

What is appreciated, however, is the increase in allocations for public health, addressing non-communicable diseases (NCDs), health promotion and education.

The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) also welcomed the Budget 2022 allocation for health.

Citing the success of the national Covid-19 immunisation programme, MMA said it should be expanded by continuing to give the vaccine free to underprivileged groups.

“Noting that the government may not be able to continue giving the Covid-19 vaccine for free, the tax relief given to individuals and the tax deduction given to employers towards the cost of self-procured Covid-19 vaccines is welcomed, though the vaccines should still be provided free for those in the B40 group,” MMA president  Koh Kar Chai said in a statement. 

Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz had said the government has signed an agreement to procure 88 million Covid-19 vaccines to be given as booster shots to all adults and adolescents in the country.

He said the procurement is enough to cover 140% of the population, including children aged 12 years and above.

On the issues of extending the contract tenure for contract medical officers, MMA said it will continue its discussion with the government after the announcement of an extension by two to four years falls short of its request. 

“We have sought an extension of the contract for medical officers to between 7 and 10 years. 

“However, an extension of 2-4 years has been given to allow medical officers an opportunity to specialise. MMA will continue our discussion with the government on this issue,” it said. – October 29, 2021.