THE Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) welcomes the Government’s move to allocate RM32.4 bil to the Health Ministry in Budget 2022 which was tabled by the Minister of Finance in Parliament today (Oct 29).
Association president Dr Koh Kar Chai said the additional RM2 bil each towards the cost of the immunisation programme and for the capacity building of public health services is also appreciated.
“Outsourcing of services to the private hospitals as well as hospitals under the various ministries is a good move and ought to be expanded,” he said in a statement.
He said this following a reaction to the Budget 2022 tabled by the Minister of Finance Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz.
Dr Koh said procurement of antiviral medication for the diseases caused by various viruses should also look at medical therapeutics which are low cost but equally effective.
He said the National Immunisation Programme has been a success and it should be continued and expanded to include even more vaccine preventable diseases.
Noting that the government may not be able to continue giving the COVID-19 vaccine for free, Dr Koh said the tax relief given to individuals and the tax deduction given to employers towards the cost of self -procured COVID-19 vaccines is welcome though the vaccines should still be provided free for those in the B40s.
“The continuation of ‘Agenda Nasional Malaysia Sihat’ means that non-communicable diseases has not been forgotten. Of additional delight is that rare diseases has also been noted and being acted upon.
“We have been talking about extending the sugar tax as well as imposing excise duties on nicotine containing vape liquids or gels and it is noted that this is being taken care of,” he said.
However, Dr Koh added it would be good if eventually such excise duties are channelled towards the budget needed to manage diseases related to sugar consumption and cigarette smoking or vaping.
Dr Koh said the association had sought for an extension of the contract for medical officers to between seven to 10 years.
“However, an extension of two to four years have been given to give the medical officers an opportunity to specialise. MMA will continue our discussion with the Government on this issue,” he said.
Dr Koh said the allocation of RM100 mil towards the sponsorship of specialisation courses slated to benefit 3,000 medical and dental officers is a welcome piece of news.
Saying that mental health continues to be given importance and rightly so as seen by the mental health devastation which was brought on by this pandemic, he said: “Tax relief for psychiatric treatment and psychological counselling will help a long way in managing the mental health of our nation.”
Dr Koh also said it is timely to take care of the domestic violence victims which has been forgotten all this while as well as to look into the plight of under-nourishment urban children which can never be understated as they are the future of the country.
“We need a healthy nation of the future and programmes tackling this is good,” he added. – Oct 29, 2021
