Healthcare in Malaysia
Government policy and action
Government policy and action
----------------------------

The Malaysian government places importance on the expansion and development of health care, putting 5% of the government social sector development budget into public health care—an increase of more than 47% over the previous figure. This has meant an overall increase of more than RM 2 billion. With a rising and ageing population, the Government wishes to improve in many areas including the refurbishment of existing hospitals, building and equipping new hospitals, expansion of the number of polyclinics, and improvements in training and expansion of [telehealth](/wiki/Telehealth "Telehealth"). A major problem with the health care sector is the lack of medical centres for rural areas, which the government is trying to counter through the development of and expansion of a system called "[tele\-primary care](/wiki/Telehealth "Telehealth")". Another issue is the overprescription of drugs, though this has decreased in recent years. Over the last couple of years, the Malaysian Health Ministry has increased its efforts to overhaul the system and attract more foreign investment. 

There is also an initiative by the Malaysian government to provide 1 Malaysia Clinic, a government based clinic that is free for all citizens. The medicine are usually cheap while consultations are free. 

In 2024, the Ministry of Health announced plans to set up a technical working group called the Health Transformation Office (HTO) to oversee the implementation of healthcare sector reforms in the country, as outlined under the Health White Paper, particularly in digital health transformation and health financing reforms. The Health White Paper was released in 2023, covering four key areas: 

* Transforming healthcare service delivery;
* Enhancing health promotion and disease prevention at all levels;
* Ensuring sustainable and equitable healthcare financing; and,
* Strengthening the foundation and governance of the healthcare system.

### Influenza

The [Malaysian government](/wiki/Government_of_Malaysia "Government of Malaysia") has developed a National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan (NIPPP) which serves as a time bound guide for preparedness and response plan for influenza pandemic. It provides a policy and strategic framework for a multisectoral response and contains specific advice and actions to be undertaken by the Ministry of Health at the different levels, other governmental departments and agencies and non\-governmental organisations to ensure that resources are mobilised and used most efficiently before, during and after a pandemic episode. Since the [Nipah](/wiki/Henipavirus "Henipavirus") virus outbreak in 1999, the Malaysian Health Ministry have put in place processes to be better prepared to protect the Malaysian population from the threat of infectious diseases. [Malaysia](/wiki/Malaysia "Malaysia") was fully prepared during the [Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)](/wiki/Severe_acute_respiratory_syndrome "Severe acute respiratory syndrome") situation (Malaysia was not a SARS affected country) and the episode of the [H5N1 (bird flu)](/wiki/Influenza_A_virus_subtype_H5N1 "Influenza A virus subtype H5N1") outbreak in 2004\.

### Medicine via Post

In January 2011 the Malaysia government launched a program to renew prescriptions via mail. Medicine via Post targets patients with chronic diseases. To be eligible to participate patients have to receive a certification from a pharmacist that their condition is stable and that they understand how to properly use their medication. Patients pay delivery costs which are RM3\.5 in Putrajaya, RM5\.0 for other locations in Peninsular Malaysia, and RM8\.0 for Sabah and Sarawak. The program is based on a pilot\-project conducted at Putrajaya Hospital started in October 2009\.Medicine via Post in govt hospitals, by Husa Yusop, 24 January 2012


How can the Malaysian government improve its response to public health crises?