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Free Malaysia Today
01-08-2025
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
Bolder health reforms needed in 13MP, says think tank
Strategic actions remain imperative for the well-being and resilience of Malaysia's healthcare system, said the Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy. PETALING JAYA : A think tank has urged the government to execute bolder reforms for the health sector under the 13th Malaysia Plan, tabled yesterday, saying it falls short in several key areas. The Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy said the government could show more ambition in areas like healthcare financing, health workforce, and non-communicable diseases. Galen CEO Azrul Khalib said reforming healthcare financing was especially critical as the current tax-funded system was unsustainable. He also said the Rakan KKM programme, offering 'premium economy' services at selected public hospitals, and the proposed basic medical and health insurance and takaful (MHIT) product from the government were insufficient initiatives. 'What is needed is compulsory national health and social insurance to provide complementary funding to support health and aged care. 'Adopting a (salary deduction) rate similar to Perkeso contributions, we could raise at least RM6 billion annually to complement the annual health allocation under the federal budget,' he said in a statement. Azrul said the government should have also announced a health services commission under the 13MP, which would take over the task of managing public health workers from the public services department. 'This commission would potentially enhance governance, improve accountability, and better manage human resources, leading to improved service delivery, and stronger confidence by the public and healthcare workers,' he said. He said there was no clear vision or plan on how to stem the rise in non-communicable diseases, of which treating them takes up about 70% of the billions in Putrajaya's annual health expenditure. Azrul also said that failure to increase investment in effective treatments and care for NCDs could lead to more patients dying from suboptimal treatment. 'The 13MP should represent a bold and ambitious vision to ensure that the country's healthcare system continues to be fit for purpose. Strategic actions remain imperative for the well-being and resilience of Malaysia's healthcare system. 'We cannot afford to be timid,' he said. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Putrajaya will allocate RM40 billion for the health sector under the 13MP. Apart from building and upgrading health facilities in several states, he said, a framework for professional development will be developed to ensure talent retention in the health sector. Yesterday, Azrul said the RM40 billion should fund long-term investment in healthcare infrastructure, modernisation of medical equipment, and improvements to the workplace environment. He also said more must be invested in health literacy programmes that inform and empower people to take charge of their health.
Free Malaysia Today
01-07-2025
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
Use EPF as collection tool for national health insurance, says think tank
The funds would supplement existing allocations in the annual health budget, Galen Centre said in proposing a national insurance scheme via EPF contributions. PETALING JAYA : A health policy think tank has proposed the introduction of a national health and social insurance scheme funded through increased contributions to the EPF, without drawing from contributors' existing retirement savings. Azrul Khalib, CEO of Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy, said the scheme could be modelled after Singapore's Central Provident Fund in the early 1980s, where contributors allocated 8% to 10.5% of their income to the MediSave account. 'This proposal would not use people's existing retirement savings. Instead, it proposes an increase in the level of contributions by both worker and employer, which would then be earmarked for national health and social insurance. 'These funds would complement and not replace the existing annual allocation under the federal budget, potentially bringing in new and sustainable funding,' he said in a statement today. Azrul said the proposed scheme would provide access to both public and private healthcare, with no exclusions for pre-existing conditions, no costly deductibles, and only minimal co-payments where necessary. He added that the fund could be used to upgrade public hospital services and improve access to lifesaving medication and treatment currently out of reach for many Malaysians. Health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad previously proposed that EPF allow contributors to use funds in their Account 2 to pay for medical insurance premiums. EPF members are currently able to access their Account 2 funds to meet some of their education, healthcare, and housing needs. They are also allowed to make a partial withdrawal at the age of 50. Noting that only 18% of EPF members currently have sufficient savings, Azrul said diverting savings to pay insurance premiums risked making the situation worse. 'Implying that they won't notice the withdrawal as it is automatic and coming from the Sejahtera account is dangerous, encourages financial illiteracy, and is disconnected from the rakyat's everyday realities,' he said.
Daily Express
01-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Use EPF as collection tool for national health insurance, says think tank
Published on: Tuesday, July 01, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jul 01, 2025 By: FMT Reporters Text Size: The funds would supplement existing allocations in the annual health budget, Galen Centre said in proposing a national insurance scheme via EPF contributions. PETALING JAYA: A health policy think tank has proposed the introduction of a national health and social insurance scheme funded through increased contributions to the EPF, without drawing from contributors' existing retirement savings. Azrul Khalib, CEO of Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy, said the scheme could be modelled after Singapore's Central Provident Fund in the early 1980s, where contributors allocated 8% to 10.5% of their income to the MediSave account. 'This proposal would not use people's existing retirement savings. Instead, it proposes an increase in the level of contributions by both worker and employer, which would then be earmarked for national health and social insurance. 'These funds would complement and not replace the existing annual allocation under the federal budget, potentially bringing in new and sustainable funding,' he said in a statement today. Azrul said the proposed scheme would provide access to both public and private healthcare, with no exclusions for pre-existing conditions, no costly deductibles, and only minimal co-payments where necessary. He added that the fund could be used to upgrade public hospital services and improve access to lifesaving medication and treatment currently out of reach for many Malaysians. Health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad previously proposed that EPF allow contributors to use funds in their Account 2 to pay for medical insurance premiums. EPF members are currently able to access their Account 2 funds to meet some of their education, healthcare, and housing needs. They are also allowed to make a partial withdrawal at the age of 50. Noting that only 18% of EPF members currently have sufficient savings, Azrul said diverting savings to pay insurance premiums risked making the situation worse. 'Implying that they won't notice the withdrawal as it is automatic and coming from the Sejahtera account is dangerous, encourages financial illiteracy, and is disconnected from the rakyat's everyday realities,' he said. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Free Malaysia Today
23-05-2025
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
Abortion laws outdated, says health think tank after 21-year-old jailed
Galen Centre CEO Azrul Khalib said outdated laws criminalise women for aborting their pregnancies while ignoring the root causes of unplanned pregnancies. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : A health think tank has urged the government to reform the nation's abortion laws after a woman was sentenced to nine months in jail today for taking pills to terminate her pregnancy. Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy CEO Azrul Khalib said the case exposed outdated laws that criminalised women while ignoring the root causes of unplanned pregnancies. 'No woman or girl should face prison for exercising autonomy over her body,' he said in a statement. Azrul argued that Malaysia's abortion laws were based on 19th-century provisions and did not reflect modern medical standards or the challenges faced by young, poor, or unmarried women. While abortion is legally allowed under certain conditions, he said, stigma and poor access to services often force women to resort to unsafe methods. Citing a 2022 health ministry survey, he said one in three pregnancies was unplanned, while over 25% of women lacked access to family planning and the use of modern contraceptives remained below 35%. Azrul added that the Worth Health Organization supported the use of mifepristone and misoprostol for self-managed abortion up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. However, mifepristone is not registered in Malaysia and misoprostol is only approved for treating gastric ulcers. 'Criminalising abortion drives people underground and increases risks, while unsafe abortions contribute to 13% of maternal deaths globally,' he said, adding that Malaysia's maternal mortality rate had stagnated for years. Azrul urged the government to review restrictive laws, improve awareness of abortion guidelines among healthcare workers, and expand access to contraceptives and counselling, regardless of marital status. 'When a third of pregnancies are unintended, the solution cannot be prison walls.' Earlier today, it was reported that 21-year-old Norazzeti Azima Awang Long was sentenced to nine months in jail by the Ayer Keroh magistrates' court in Melaka after pleading guilty to causing the death of her child before birth. Norazzeti had purchased misoprostol online for RM600 to terminate her five-month pregnancy. The charge was brought under Section 315 of the Penal Code, which provides for up to 10 years in jail, a fine, or both upon conviction.
