THE Ministry of Health (MOH) will prioritise upgrading of dilapidated and rundown facilities with the RM36.3 billion in funding received through Budget 2023.

Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the ministry had identified 1,200 health clinics that are dilapidated or became rundown due to overuse during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“There are many health clinics over 50 years old. However, we will prioritise 400 clinics and use this funding effectively,” she told reporters after the handing over of the Segamat Hospital new building project in Segamat today.

On Thursday, Zaliha said the MOH had submitted an application for special allocations to upgrade health facilities across the country with immediate effect, considering that 1,200 of its 3,119 clinics are at least 50 years old, in poor condition, considering most of them were built with wood.

Regarding the allocation for new permanent and contract positions for more than 1,500 medical officers, dental officers and pharmacists through Budget 2023, Zaliha said the ministry would hold discussions with the Public Services Commission about the placement of its staff.

On the Segamat Hospital’s new building project, she said the project is worth RM90.5 million with an additional 67 beds for the emergency and trauma department; operating rooms; and intensive care, high dependency, respiratory and haemodynamics units; and the sterile supply department, and is scheduled to open in stages from March 5.

She also announced RM600,000 for the construction of 422 parking spaces at the hospital, which she said is expected to overcome the congestion issue.

In a separate statement, Zaliha said the government had approved RM260 million to maintain and replace medical equipment.

She also described the MOH’s funding this year as a positive start towards increasing the health sector budget to 5% of GDP.

“It is equivalent to 2% of GDP forecast in 2023 and is an increase from 1.89% in 2022.

“However, we are confident that the 5% rate can be achieved and fulfilled by the government in stages within five years as the country’s economy is recovering and growing rapidly,” she added.

When re-tabling the budget yesterday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that the health sector received the second-highest allocation of RM36.3 billion, compared to RM32.4 billion last year. – Bernama, February 25, 2023.