logo
Rakan KKM will not burden healthcare workers, says Dzulkefly

Rakan KKM will not burden healthcare workers, says Dzulkefly

KUALA LUMPUR: Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad has assured that the newly announced Rakan KKM initiative will not impose additional burdens on medical officers, specialists or nurses.
"This matter has actually already been addressed," he said, adding that prior to the launch, the ministry conducted several engagement sessions, including town halls and staff surveys.
Dzulkefly was speaking to the press during the Precision Public Health Asia 2025 Conference in Petaling Jaya today.
"It was clear that they do have time to do locum work in private hospitals," he said.
Dzulkefly clarified that participation is entirely voluntary and that those without time are not part of the target group.
He added that Rakan KKM is aimed at critical healthcare specialists who the ministry is seeking to retain through extra remuneration and other incentives.
The minister also urged the media to refrain from speculating about the programme's operational details, adding that a briefing on the matter will be held in the near future.
Yesterday, Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Datuk Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira urged the Health Ministry to clarify the structure and operations of the newly announced Rakan KKM initiative.
Kalwinder said key questions remained over its governance, scope, financing model and staffing.
The programme is set to offer 'premium economy' services at selected public hospitals for elective outpatient, day care and inpatient services, including personalised care, specialist choice and enhanced privacy.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

MOE plans intervention to boost number of school counsellors
MOE plans intervention to boost number of school counsellors

New Straits Times

time5 hours ago

  • New Straits Times

MOE plans intervention to boost number of school counsellors

KUALA LUMPUR: The number of counselling teachers currently placed in government primary and secondary schools remains insufficient to cater to the growing student population, said Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek. She said the ministry needed to introduce policy interventions to increase the number of school counsellor positions. "This is a significant commitment that involves not just policy change but also staffing allocations and other administrative considerations," she told reporters after appearing on the Malaysia Hari Ini (MHI) programme at Balai Berita yesterday. Fadhlina said strengthening the psychosocial well-being of students was just as important as maintaining the safety of the physical school environment. She said the ministry was focused on enhancing both the number and training of counselling teachers in primary and secondary schools to support a healthy school ecosystem. "The current number of counsellors is still insufficient. "As I mentioned earlier, the ministry must commit to addressing this issue seriously because it is not a trivial matter and requires collective commitment. "We must prioritise the addition of school counsellors. "At the same time, training must be enhanced so they are better equipped to manage students' issues, particularly depression, an area also supported by the Health Ministry and specific developments in Malaysia's counselling sector." She was commenting on a recent revelation by State Public Health and Environment Committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin, who raised concerns over depression among secondary school students in the state. According to media reports, Jamaliah told the Selangor State Legislative Assembly on July 7 that data from the 2024/2025 Healthy Mind Screening Analysis showed that 1,020 out of 36,428 secondary students in Selangor (2.8 per cent) exhibited early signs of high-risk depression. In response, Fadhlina called for shared responsibility and collective action from stakeholders, including parents, the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), community counsellors and the general public. "We treat every case with utmost seriousness. "We do not deny that such issues are affecting our students, but what we need now is a united commitment. This issue must be tackled together," she said. Fadhlina said the ministry had implemented various programmes involving screenings and assessments by school counsellors to detect symptoms of depression among students. She said students who required further support would be referred to psychologists. However, she said, family involvement remained one of the most crucial forms of early and continuous intervention. "Mental health support programmes in schools are extremely important. "We work closely with the Health Ministry to ensure these initiatives have a meaningful impact in strengthening the psychosocial ecosystem for students. "At the same time, I urge families to provide strong support. "That means parental involvement plays a key role in helping children recover, in addition to the interventions we offer. "If there are any warning signs, we urge parents to be vigilant and inform the school so that we can activate the support system as early as possible," she said. Among those present were Media Prima Bhd Group chairman Datuk Seri Dr Syed Hussian Aljunid, Group managing director Rafiq Razali, Group chief financial officer Rosli Sabarudin, Omnia chief operating officer Datuk Mohd Efendi Omar, and Media Prima Television Network and Primeworks Studios chief executive officer Nini Yusof.

Pasir Gudang Hospital To Begin Operations After Achieving 50 Pct Readiness
Pasir Gudang Hospital To Begin Operations After Achieving 50 Pct Readiness

Barnama

time19 hours ago

  • Barnama

Pasir Gudang Hospital To Begin Operations After Achieving 50 Pct Readiness

KUALA LUMPUR, July 24 (Bernama) -- The Pasir Gudang Hospital (HPG) in Johor will begin operations after it reaches at least 50 per cent readiness, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad. He said the Ministry of Health (MOH) is carrying out meticulous preparations with the Johor government to ensure basic amenities, medical equipment and human resources are sufficient before the hospital begins operations. "The Johor Menteri Besar and I agreed to ensure that we achieve at least around 50 per cent readiness, not just in terms of the physical building, but also equipment and human resources, before fully operating,' he told a media conference after launching the Malaysian Year of Medical Tourism (MYMT) 2026 here today. Dzulkefly also said that the hospital staff intake process is expected to be completed by the end of this year or the first quarter of 2026, at the latest. "The state government will try to give whatever assistance it can to the MOH to ensure all human resources supply can be met by at least 50 per cent for us to begin operations,' he said. Previously, the HPG - a 20.6-hectare facility located in Bandar Seri Alam that is equipped with 304 beds and offering 14 specialist services - was reported to be ready to start operating in phases from Aug 1. Meanwhile, Dzulkefly expressed his gratitude following the announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday that the government will expedite the filling of over 4,000 positions at public health facilities, including contract appointments for doctors. "We are extremely grateful because we have received 4,253 positions, and just recently received the official letter from the Public Services Commission (SPA) regarding the matter. "We will immediately work on filling the positions, especially to push for the transition of the status of doctors and health workers from contract for service to contract of service and eventually to permanent positions,' he said.

Malaysia targets global medical tourism leadership with MYMT 2026
Malaysia targets global medical tourism leadership with MYMT 2026

The Sun

time19 hours ago

  • The Sun

Malaysia targets global medical tourism leadership with MYMT 2026

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism (MYMT) 2026 was officially launched today to reinforce the country's status as a leading destination for affordable, high-quality healthcare. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad unveiled the campaign under the tagline 'Healing Meets Hospitality,' targeting international healthcare travellers with Malaysia's blend of medical excellence and warm hospitality. 'Malaysia has long been recognised as a preferred destination for medical tourism. In 2024, we recorded 1.6 million healthcare travellers, generating RM2.72 billion in revenue, which marks a 21 per cent increase from the previous year,' said Dzulkefly. He noted that Malaysia's global reputation was further cemented when it ranked among the world's top 10 medical tourism destinations by Nomad Capitalist earlier this year. The campaign aligns with Visit Malaysia 2026, aiming to position healthcare as a key economic driver. Dzulkefly projected spillover benefits of RM12 to RM15 billion by 2030 for airlines, hotels, and local businesses. A key initiative under MYMT 2026 is the Flagship Medical Tourism Hospital (FMTH) programme, which recognises hospitals for clinical excellence and innovation. Four hospitals—Institut Jantung Negara, Island Hospital Penang, Mahkota Medical Centre, and Subang Jaya Medical Centre—are in the final assessment stage, with the winner to be announced in December. Adding star power to the campaign, celebrated singer Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza was named official ambassador, embodying trust and compassion—values central to Malaysia Healthcare. Dzulkefly also highlighted Malaysia's leadership role in ASEAN healthcare cooperation, particularly in cross-border care and health equity. 'With our continued commitment and collaboration, I am confident that we will exceed expectations and set new benchmarks in global medical tourism,' he said. - Bernama

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store