Cabinet to get healthcare reform proposal by month-end: Dzulkefly

Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said his ministry plans to bring a healthcare reform proposal to the cabinet before the end of the month.

If approved by the cabinet, the healthcare reform proposal called "Sihat Bersama (Healthy Together) 2030" would lead to a revamped health financing system.

“Unless you have the health financing system in place, there’s no point in bringing reform in the government and private sector, ” Dzulkefly said as reported by The Star today.

Sihat Bersama 2030 has three pillars which are a sustainable health financing system, public sector transformation through corporatisation and private sector regulatory reform.

Dzulkefly said it would also enhance existing healthcare services and address long-standing issues in the healthcare industry such as the lack of funding, long waiting lists, lack of medical staff and the burden of non-communicable diseases and an ageing population.

"It is a comprehensive plan that will address the healthcare system and healthcare delivery issues in the country," he said.

The healthcare financing reform would serve two purposes that are to increase pooled and prepaid health financing in a sustainable manner that is affordable for everyone and to establish a well-governed health financing institution, he said.

The corporatisation, he explained, was also expected to make the public sector more "empowered, agile and responsive".

A task force would be set up to look into the implementation and communication strategies for the reform if the cabinet were to approve of it.

Once the proposal is approved by the cabinet, he said the details of the reform would be made available for public feedback.