Healthcare in Malaysia

Healthcare in Malaysia is mainly under the Ministry of Health. Malaysia generally has an efficient and widespread system of health care, operating a two-tier health care system consisting of both a government base universal healthcare system and a co-existing private healthcare system. Infant mortality rate – a standard in determining the overall efficiency of healthcare – in 2005 was 10, comparing favourably with the United States and western Europe. Life expectancy at birth in 2005 was 74 years.[1] While there is a universal healthcare system, specialist services require queuing despite being free. Hence the private health care plays a major role in providing specialist services which complements the universal health care.

Kuala Lumpur Hospital

Most insurance covers medical fees in Malaysia.

History

Healthcare in Malaysia has undergone radical transformations. Earliest pre-colonial medical care was confined to traditional remedies current among local people. The advent of colonialism brought western medical practice into the country. Since the country's independence in August 1957, the system of medical care transferred from the British colonial rule has been transformed to meet the needs of emerging diseases, as well as national political requirements.

Healthcare today in Malaysia
A health clinic in Tangkak District, Johor.

Malaysia has a widespread system of health care. It implements a universal healthcare system, which exists alongside the private healthcare system.[2] Infant mortality fell from 75 per 1000 live births in 1957 to 7 in 2013.[3]

Healthcare in Malaysia is divided into private and public sectors. Public provision is rather basic, especially in rural areas.[4] The government produced a plan, 1Care for 1Malaysia, in 2009, with the intention of reform based on the principle ‘use according to need, pay according to ability’, but little progress towards its implementation has been made.[5] Malaysian society places importance on the expansion and development of healthcare, putting 5% of the government social sector development budget into public healthcare, 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. Over the last couple of years, they have increased their efforts to overhaul the systems and attract more foreign investment.

Hospitals
Main article: List of hospitals in Malaysia

The government hospitals have the country's best healthcare equipment and facilities apart from having specialists in the field. However, the main drawback is the shortage of staff in public hospitals compare to number of patients seeking treatment has led to long queues.[6] Private hospitals are mostly located at urban areas and are equipped with the latest diagnostic and imaging facilities. Private hospitals were not seen as an ideal investment: it has often taken up to ten years before companies have seen any profits. However, the situation has now changed and companies are now exploring this area again, corresponding with the increased number of foreigners entering Malaysia for medical care and the recent government focus on developing the health tourism industry.[7][8] The Government has also been trying to promote Malaysia as a health care destination, regionally and internationally.[9]

Government agencies have invested heavily in healthcare companies. About a third of private hospital beds are in concerns with government investment.[10]

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. 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".[2] Another issue is the overprescription of drugs, though this has decreased in recent years.[11] 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.

Influenza

The Malaysian government 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.[12] Since the Nipah 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 was fully prepared during the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) situation (Malaysia was not a SARS affected country) and the episode of the H5N1 (bird flu) 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.[13]

Medical education
See also: List of medical schools in Malaysia

The Malaysian health care system requires doctors to perform a compulsory three years service with public hospitals to ensure that the manpower in these hospitals is maintained.[2] Doctors are required to perform 4 years including 2 years of housemanship and 2 years government service with public hospitals throughout the nation, ensuring adequate coverage of medical needs for the general population. Foreign doctors are encouraged to apply for employment in Malaysia, especially if they are qualified to a higher level. There is still, however, a significant shortage in the medical workforce, especially of highly trained specialists; thus, certain medical care and treatment are available only in large cities. Recent efforts to bring many facilities to other towns have been hampered by lack of expertise to run the available equipment. As a result, certain medical care and treatment is available only in large cities. The Malaysian takes its training of doctors seriously with usually time of 5 years degree with another 2 years of housemanship. The Malaysian Medical council currently oversees the medical profession in Malaysia. Some of the universities offering health care education in Malaysia is recognized overseas. Malaysia offers a strict healthcare training for medical professionals and research.

All varieties offer a minimum 5 years of undergraduate degree in medicine, before undergoing another training. This is known as housemanship. The period of housemanship is for a period of 2 years before becoming a fully qualified general practitioner. The body overseeing the medical profession is known as the Malaysian Medical Council. The council was privatized as a corporate body.

See also

References
  1. "UNICEF website for data from 2005". Unicef.org. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
  2. moveforward (8 August 2009). "Health Care in Malaysia". Expatforum.com. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
  3. Britnell, Mark (2015). In Search of the Perfect Health System. London: Palgrave. p. 36. ISBN 978-1-137-49661-4.
  4. Britnell, Mark (2015). In Search of the Perfect Health System. London: Palgrave. p. 36. ISBN 978-1-137-49661-4.
  5. "Better healthcare for all". The Star. 3 December 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  6. "Public or private hospitals? The choice is yours". The Borneo Post.
  7. "Penang Medical Tourism". Archived from the original on 12 September 2015.
  8. Ministry of Tourism. "Media Release:Health Tourism in Malaysia". Tourism Malaysia. Retrieved 21 June 2010.
  9. "The Official Site of Malaysia Healthcare Travel & Medical Tourism". Myhealthcare.gov.my. 3 July 2009. Archived from the original on 17 October 2010. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
  10. Britnell, Mark (2015). In Search of the Perfect Health System. London: Palgrave. p. 39. ISBN 978-1-137-49661-4.
  11. "Healthcare in Malaysia". Allianzworldwidecare.com. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
  12. DATO’ DR CHUA SOI LEK (January 2006). "National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan (NIPPP)". Archived from the original on 9 May 2009.
  13. Medicine via Post in govt hospitals, by Husa Yusop, 24 January 2012

Further reading
  • Chee, Heng Leng; Barraclough, Simon (2007). Chee Heng Leng, Simon (ed.). Healthcare in Malaysia (1 ed.). Malaysia: Taylor & Francis.
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