By Yasmin Ramlan
KUALA SELANGOR, Oct 26 — State executive councillor for public health and environment Jamaliah Jamaluddin said that the upcoming 2024 Selangor Budget could possibly see improvements made to the Iltizam Sihat Selangor (ISS) initiative and a greater focus on preventive healthcare.
Speaking to reporters, she said although it is still being reviewed, the state government would allocate a substantial allocation for public healthcare.
“Perhaps there will be an announcement to improve the health card. However, I will wait for the Menteri Besar (Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari) to announce it.
“Certainly, this matter is currently under consideration because, in Selangor, we are prioritising a stronger focus on preventive measures,” she said after launching the Healthy Society Programme (Masih) and World Heart Day celebration at the Al-Sultan Abdullah Hospital, UiTM Puncak Alam, here, today.
The ISS scheme, formerly known as Skim Peduli Sihat, offers subsidies to patients visiting private general practitioner (GP) clinics up to RM70 per visit.
The initiative, which was allotted RM45 million in last year’s state budget to support some 100,000 ISS beneficiaries and 150,000 families signed up for the programme, provides an annual allocation of RM500 to families and RM250 to individuals.
Acknowledging the significant allocation in the state budget compared with other states in the country, Jamaliah emphasised the need for prudent spending.
“We want to make sure that we make the most of the funding that we have been given.
“While we continue to proceed with the programme, which is quite popular with the people of Selangor, we will also work and invest in preventive awareness campaigns and come up with new ideas.”
Earlier in her speech, Jamaliah advised people to take charge of their own health, citing a 2022 report from the Health Ministry and World Health Organisation (WHO) that the Federal government spends over RM9.65 billion annually to treat diseases related to non-communicable diseases (NCD).
