Stop stalling, push Health White Paper in Parliament: MMA
While acknowledging the necessity of stakeholder engagements, MMA president-elect Dr Thiryunavakarasu Rajoo highlighted that the HWP already outlines the frameworks needed to better the healthcare sector.
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The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
A timely boost to doctors' morale
PETALING JAYA: The move to do away with contract doctors will provide a better sense of job security for young doctors serving in government hospitals, ending years of anxiety, say stakeholders. Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Datuk Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira said hiring doctors on a permanent scheme would also pave the way for more students to take up medicine. 'We are happy that steps are underway to resolve the contract doctor system. 'The employment of doctors under the permanent scheme will provide job security and planned career progression for the new doctors. 'This will in turn also help encourage students to take up medicine as a profession and also will be key to improving retention of doctors within the healthcare system,' he said when contacted yesterday. He said there is a need for more doctors and specialists to address the shortage in the public healthcare workforce. He said the retention of doctors under a permanent scheme would also help the nation meet the growing challenges posed by non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and an ageing population. The MMA had earlier called for the contract doctor system to be abolished. The medical body had also raised the matter during its previous interactions with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Dr Kalwinder was responding to Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad's comment that efforts to abolish the contract system for government doctors are being looked into. Public health expert Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin said the abolishment of the contract system is long overdue. 'This move addresses a critical, years-long grievance within the healthcare workforce. 'The creation of permanent positions will finally provide thousands of junior doctors with the needed job security and career stability which they have desperately lacked since 2016. 'This will put an end to years of anxiety faced by the affected doctors with regard to the renewal of their of contracts,' he said. Dr Zainal added that offering permanent posts is the most effective way to retain skilled Malaysian doctors within the public system. 'This significantly curbs the brain drain of frustrated contract doctors seeking better prospects overseas or in the private sector,' he said. Converting contract doctors to permanent staff, he added, will also improve the morale and commitment of doctors serving with the government. 'A stable, valued workforce is fundamental to building a more resilient and sustainable public healthcare system for the long term,' he added. Dr Zainal cautioned that the success of introducing permanent employment of doctor lies with its execution of the scheme. 'Concerns remain about whether enough permanent posts will be created promptly and allocated fairly based on merit, avoiding further delays or perceived bias,' he said. He noted that the move to do away with the contract system will not automatically solve the severe lack of specialist training posts which the ministry must also urgently address. When contacted, Hartal Doktor Kontrak spokesman Dr Muhammad Yassin hoped that the assurance given by Dzulkefly would not be merely 'lip service'. 'It has to be backed by real intentions and determination by those in power to solve this long-standing issue which had contributed to the bleeding healthcare services that the country is facing right now,' he said. Parliament's Special Select Committee on Health chairman Suhaizan Kaiat said the government's proposal to end the contract doctor system will improve the national healthcare system.
The Star
12-08-2025
- The Star
Compliance of drug price display rule at 55%, Dewan Rakyat told
KUALA LUMPUR: Checks during the first three months of enforcing drug price transparency showed that 55% of 1,639 private healthcare facilities nationwide complied satisfactorily, says Deputy Health Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni. The remaining 45% had incomplete or inaccessible price displays, he added. ALSO READ: Drug price display order gazetted, to come into effect May 1 "These findings indicate the need for continued monitoring, guidance sessions and phased enforcement for non-compliant premises," he said during Minister's Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Aug 12). To ensure greater transparency and fairness in private healthcare pharmacy services, Lukanisman said the Health Ministry plans to conduct a comprehensive evaluation from September. "This aims to assess the impact of the drug pricing policy and guide improvements in the system. "It will inform (these) improvements to ensure transparency and fairness in private healthcare pharmacy services," he added. ALSO READ: Medicine price display rule to proceed on Aug 1, says Health Minister The display of drug prices, which came into effect on May 1 under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering (Marking of Prices for Drugs) Order 2025, is part of the government's efforts to enhance public access to drug price information. This initiative seeks to ensure competitive pricing and informed consumer choices. From Aug 1, the ministry began inspections and monitoring, issuing warnings for non-compliance, with full enforcement and fines scheduled to commence on Jan 1. The phased approach aims to give private healthcare providers, including clinics, hospitals and community pharmacies, time to adjust and comply with the new regulations. The initiative faced some resistance from non-governmental organisations and medical associations, particularly concerning the regulation of consultation fees, which have not been reviewed for 30 years. ALSO READ: Medicine price display rule to stay However, Lukanisman noted that the ministry remains committed to inclusive engagement with stakeholders, including the Malaysian Medical Association, to address these issues and ensure a balanced approach to healthcare regulation. Addressing concerns raised by Jimmy Puah Wee Tse (PH-Tebrau) about rising medical costs, Lukanisman highlighted the ministry's ongoing efforts to implement interim Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG) systems in private facilities by 2027. "The DRG data will guide private facilities in setting reasonable prices, although it won't regulate profit margins," he said. DRG systems classify hospital cases with similar clinical characteristics and resource usage, allowing for a standardised payment system based on the diagnosis and treatment provided.
New Straits Times
11-08-2025
- New Straits Times
RM90mil Madani grant helps nearly 39,000 SMEs go digital
JOHOR BARU: Some 38,804 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) nationwide embraced digitalisation last year under the Geran Digital PMKS Madani (GDPM) scheme, with approved funding worth RM89.6 million. Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said 2,838 recipients were private clinics and pharmacies, marking about 19 per cent of the sector operating in premises across the country, based on Malaysian Medical Association data. "This shows the effectiveness of the GDPM in helping SMEs digitise services. This year, we are focusing on the health sector, targeting at least 50 per cent of private clinics and pharmacies," she said after launching the Johor leg of GDPM Fest 2025 in Permas Jaya today. The government has approved an additional RM50 million for the programme this year, with RM30 million channelled to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) via telecommunications companies to strengthen SME digital adoption, particularly in healthcare. The Geran Digital PMKS Madani, or the Madani Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Digital Grant, is a government initiative to help SMEs digitise their businesses. The grant offers matching funds of up to 50 per cent, or a maximum of RM5,000, for eligible businesses to subscribe to digital services. Its aim is to enhance SME efficiency and competitiveness through the use of digital technology. The effort reflects the government's continued commitment to implementing digitalisation initiatives, a core pillar of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP). Teo said digital health records would allow patients to access services across clinics without repeating paperwork, complementing but not replacing MySejahtera.
