Senators Call For Stronger Health Sector In 13MP

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 26 (Bernama) -- Several senators today called for the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) to place special emphasis on strengthening the national health sector, including increasing the number of medical specialists and nurses, while also enhancing mental health initiatives and the role of the private sector.  

Senator Datuk Edward Linggu Bukut said the five-year development plan should focus specifically on providing more doctors, trained nurses, medical specialists and adequate equipment, particularly for rural communities and remote islands.  

“This is especially for those in interior and remote island areas so that the people are no longer left out from accessing quality healthcare,” he said when debating the motion on the 13MP in the Dewan Negara  today.  

Senator Noorita Sual, meanwhile, stressed that mental health issues among youths must be given serious attention in view of the economic, social and digital challenges of the post-pandemic period.  

She said the rates of depression, anxiety and mental stress were increasingly worrying, with Ministry of Health (MOH) data showing that more than 500,000 Malaysians, mostly young people, sought mental healthcare in 2022.  

“This is no longer an isolated issue, but a public health crisis. Our young generation is searching for direction, yet the support provided is still insufficient,” she said.  

She highlighted the need for a comprehensive strategy covering easier access to treatment, awareness campaigns and community education to reduce stigma towards mental health problems.  

Meanwhile, Senator Dr Wan Martina Wan Yusoff said government policies relating to the private healthcare sector also need to be reviewed to ensure the public can obtain quality, equitable and affordable treatment.  

According to her, this step is crucial in addressing the rising cost of healthcare and tackling issues affecting private medical practitioners, including outdated regulations on drug prices and consultation fees that have not been revised in over three decades.  

“The role of private clinics is significant in helping the government provide primary healthcare to the people. However, the presence of third parties imposing various additional charges and restricting treatment options is undermining doctors’ ability to provide optimal care,” she said.  

Citing the findings of the 2019 National Health and Morbidity Survey, Wan Martina said 33.9 per cent of Malaysians utilised private healthcare services, reflecting the need to redesign a more comprehensive and inclusive health action plan.  

In the meantime, Senator Dr A. Lingeshwaran raised the issue of bullying that still occurs among healthcare workers, including junior doctors, nurses and paramedics in MOH facilities.  

“I would like to commend MOH’s efforts in launching guidelines for managing workplace bullying. However, we do not want this to remain just a fine-looking document kept in a safe,” he said.  

He stressed that implementation of the policy must be accompanied by guarantees of protection for whistleblowers, noting that many victims were afraid to lodge reports as their identities were often leaked despite using official channels such as the Public Complaints Management System (SISPA).  

“Some eventually faced pressure, were sidelined or forced to resign,” he said, while suggesting that the Ministry of Health establish a direct hotline to the minister’s office so that serious complaints could be channelled straight to Putrajaya and investigated by a special task force.  

The Dewan Negara sitting resumes tomorrow.

— BERNAMA