Malaysian Medical Association calls for sustained parliamentary debate on healthcare financing and medical inflation, citing systemic pressures.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has called for healthcare financing and rising medical costs to remain a key focus of parliamentary debate.
MMA president Datuk Dr R. Thirunavukarasu said these issues critically affect the wider public.
He described the Malaysian Health Insurance and Takaful (MHIT) initiative as the government’s first serious, coordinated effort to tackle medical inflation and rising insurance premiums.
“This is the first time we are seeing a serious, collective effort by multiple ministries and the regulator to address healthcare financing issues,” he said on Bernama TV’s The Nation programme.
Dr Thirunavukarasu cited an ageing population, rising non-communicable diseases, higher regulatory costs, and advanced medical technology as key drivers of increasing costs.
He noted delayed treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic later created a surge in cases, adding pressure on the system.
About 70% of the population relies on the public healthcare system, which remains overstretched.
“Healthcare is a systemic issue. You cannot have a short-term solution,” he stated.
He urged consistent pursuit of reforms outlined in the Health White Paper, including financing reform and manpower retention.
The MMA president reiterated that public healthcare spending should reach at least 5% of GDP, estimated at RM70 billion to RM80 billion annually.
He said MPs must discuss sustainable funding mechanisms like social health insurance.
“Healthcare should not be politicised. It should be a whole-of-nation, whole-of-society responsibility,” he concluded.
