HEALTH Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa says RM9.65 billion was spent to treat non-communicable diseases (NCD), which is 16.8% of the country’s health expenditure, an estimate based on the expenditure in 2017 and the report was published last year.

From overall expenditure, she said the total healthcare cost for diabetes was RM4.38 billion or 45.38%.

“Followed by cardiovascular disease with RM3.93 billion or 40.73%, and cancer with RM1.34 billion (13.89%),” she said.

Dr Zaliha was replying to a question from Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen (Bandar Kuching-PH) during Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Dr Zaliha said the costs included hospitalisations, primary care at health clinics, outpatient treatment at hospitals, medical check-ups and tests as well as funding.

In 2017, she said NCD had a negative impact on the economy with the lost productivity costs of RM12.88 billion.

“Diabetes recorded the highest productivity loss of RM5.74 billion and RM5.32 billion for cardiovascular,” she said.

As an intervention and advocacy measure, Dr Zaliha said the ministry will launch a sugar advocacy plan soon.

“We are also in the final phase of engaging with the associations of hawkers and small traders in Putrajaya for the campaign to reduce sugar with the slogan ‘One teaspoon is enough, less is better, none is best’,” she said. – Bernama, November 23, 2023.