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PETALING JAYA: As a country that has achieved universal health coverage for all citizens since the 1990s, it is a “serious and incorrect misrepresentation” to claim that Malaysia lacks a state health system, says Tan Sri Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah.
The director general of Health was responding to a line in an article dated October 19 on the Nature website titled “The scientist-gardener who is harnessing the power of tobacco to heal.”
The article was a profile of Audrey Teh, a Malaysian molecular immunologist working at St George’s Hospital, University of London.
One line in the article read: “I am from Malaysia, where we do not have state health care, and I have seen families ruined by medical bills.”
Dr Noor Hisham said Malaysia had achieved effective universal health coverage (UHC) in the 1990s through tax-funded public provision of health services, adding that the government provided highly subsidized health care for all residents through its extensive network of public hospitals and clinics.
“A wide range of services are covered, including health promotion, disease prevention, curative and rehabilitative care.
“All Malaysian residents can access these services with minimal fees, while services for disadvantaged populations, such as the poor, the disabled and the elderly, are provided free of charge.
“This creates a strong safety net that ensures that no one is denied access to necessary medical care, regardless of ability to pay.
The World Health Organization (WHO) continues to recognize Malaysia for providing quality health care services based on its high-performance health care system and well-trained workforce, “he wrote on his blog on Sunday (1 of November).
Dr. Noor Hisham added that public health services are highly subsidized and the Government only charges minimal fees, adding that in 2018, these represented only 1.5% of the Ministry of Health’s operating budget.
He also said that Malaysia had one of the lowest incidences of catastrophic spending among middle-income countries, with the country’s rates even lower than the average rate seen for high-income countries.
However, he acknowledged that there are individuals and families who face financial difficulties when obtaining private health services.
“Therefore, the Government continually strives to improve health care governance, delivery and financing, to strengthen financial risk protection for all Malaysians,” he said.
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