A HEALTH non-governmental organisation (NGO) had urged the Government to increase allocation for the public health sector so that the latter could help those suffering from non-communicable diseases (NCD) such as heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, cancer and others.
“Budget 2022 should allocate between RM35 bil to RM40 bil to the public health sector if we are serious about dealing with Malaysians’ health matters.
“The budget is needed to address various issues such as outdated equipment, retaining skilled personnel, preparing and ensuring resilience to future pandemics.
“This on top of the overall Malaysia’s health infrastructure, including its people, which needs additional investments and modernising. This is not the time to under-invest in health,” said Galen Centre for Health & Social Policy CEO Azrul Mohd Khalib.
The larger funding, he added, should be also channelled to prevention and treatment for cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
Azrul stressed the importance in investing in such care as many health experts have projected that NCD cases would soar in the coming years as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.
“With that said, we need to set up a cancer fund immediately using a grant of RM50 mil in seed funding. It could be a form of public-private-patient partnership (3P) where the Government, private sector and patient co-pay for treatment to increase availability and quality of existing cancer therapies, particularly those which treat advanced cases,” he remarked.
As a pilot project, Azrul opined that the Government should earmark at least 5% of the revenue generated from sin tax (alcohol and tobacco sales) to raise awareness of cancer and its treatment.
“We estimate that the 5% could easily turn into RM5.9 bil annually, which could support sustainability of a cancer fund and upscale innovative programmes or fund crucial lifesaving treatment,” he noted.
On that note, Azrul urged the Government to raise excise duties on tobacco products, especially cigarettes, which had been frozen since 2015.
He added that it was timely for the Government to increase retail prices of cigarettes by 61.8%, translating into RM24.90 per box.
“Studies show that the levy increase could potentially contribute RM 3.36 bil in tax revenue, a 30% increase to what was collected in 2019.
“Since the Government is adamant in regulating and not ban vape and e-cigarettes, it should impose a similar tax framework for such products. The excise duties should cover nicotine and non-nicotine e-liquids and juices.”
Upgrade health facilities in East M’sia
On related matters, Azrul said that the larger allocation for public health sector should be used to upgrade health facilities in East Malaysia, which has taken a beating due to the pandemic.
He also said that Sabah and Sarawak, even before COVID-19, was lagging behind in terms of its healthcare service including maternal care and primary care.
“They are clearly being left behind and this budget, the Government should identify a clear and separate funded plan for healthcare in these states.
“It should also grant a limited amount of autonomy for Sabah and Sarawak to manage its own health needs, including building of infrastructure and recruitment of skilled personnel,” Azrul concluded. – Oct 25, 2021
