Malaysia has announced an initiative to establish a National Health Fund aimed at improving the financing of public healthcare services by pooling funds from diverse sources.
According to New Straits Times, as reported by Nor Ain Mohamed Radhi, the Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad unveiled Malaysia’s Health Ministry plan to establish a National Health Fund to fund public healthcare services. This fund will pool various sources of funding, including taxes, non-tax revenues, and earmarked funds from activities such as the tax on sugar-sweetened beverages.
“This initiative aims to raise awareness among stakeholders about the significance of health financing, encouraging their participation in driving positive changes in healthcare financing,” the Health Minister said.
In response to concerns about rising medical costs, the Health Minister urged private healthcare facilities to adopt value-based healthcare, which prioritizes health outcomes over the traditional fee-for-service model.
Additionally, the Health Ministry is working on a direction of healthcare financing reforms aimed at reducing out-of-pocket expenses and improving the efficiency of healthcare financing, which will be announced soon.
