IPOH, Oct 1 — The Health Ministry (MOH) and the Education Ministry will continue to get the biggest allocations under the Madani Budget 2024 to be tabled on October 13, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar, who will be presenting the second Madani Budget as Finance Minister, said among the matters to be focused on in the MOH budget are the building of health clinics and solving the problem of congestion in government hospitals throughout the country.
“In the Madani Budget, health and education issues will continue to be emphasised. Our main focus is healthcare facilities, including hospitals.
“Some claim that since I became PM, most hospitals have become congested. This problem has long existed, so we will manage it properly,” he said when launching the national Madani Medical Scheme and Madani Afiat Programme 2023 today.
He added that subsidy rationalisation is necessary to ensure government subsidies benefit groups needing help.
This included treatment charges at government hospitals.
“We have to study it; if we want to continue with subsidies, there is no need to give to the 10 per cent (high-income group). For example, hospital charges are low, even free in some cases, but we give to all. Is it wrong to impose higher payments on the richest group?” Anwar said.
On the Madani Medical Scheme, he said it is an important initiative under the Malaysia Madani Policy to provide equitable access to quality health services for the B40 group.
Anwar also greeted the local pharmaceutical fraternity in conjunction with World Pharmacists Day, celebrated on September 25.
He praised Perak for implementing various initiatives to improve the dissemination of health information to the people, including the state-level Malaysia Health Month programme.
— Bernama
