KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 11 — The Health Ministry (MOH) is fine-tuning matters on establishing a Health Reform Commission, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Its minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said a framework for implementing healthcare system reforms, outlined in the Health White Paper tabled in the Dewan Rakyat on June 15, is being prepared.
“We are implementing a governance structure and forming several committees known as technical working groups.
“Regarding the Health Reform Commission, we are engaging with experts, not only from the ministry but also from other ministries, to look into the best way to improve Malaysia’s healthcare system…whether to establish a Health Reform Commission or with a different name (for the commission),” she said during the question-and-answer session.
Dr Zaliha was replying to a supplementary question from Kuala Langat MP Datuk Ahmad Yunus Hairi, who wanted to know the current status of the proposed establishment of the commission.
She said the weaknesses in the country’s healthcare system identified during the Covid-19 pandemic include inadequate healthcare premises and facilities to accommodate the vast number of patients.
There was also a lack of equipment like oxygen tanks and ventilators, as well as a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), medicines, healthcare personnel, and services which did not fully utilise technology and digitisation, and the unpreparedness of the national healthcare system to deal with the pandemic at the time.
Dr Zaliha said the situation clearly showed the need to strengthen the healthcare system further and ensure that people have equal access to sustainable and smooth healthcare services.
The problems identified are legacy issues and worsened by the unexpected Covid-19 situation.
She was responding to a question from Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai, who wanted to know the shortcomings in the national healthcare system, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic.
— Bernama
