An outlook on the Malaysian healthcare scene for 2019

Medical students speak to a patient in Hospital Sungai Buloh, Selangor, in this filepic. A continuing problem is the lack of junior officer places in public hospitals for medical graduates.

The change in the Government in May 2018 has led to expectations of improvements in healthcare delivery.

The significant announcements in Budget 2019 were the establishment of the B40 Health Protection Fund and a nationwide health screening programme, Skim Perlindungan Kesihatan (Peka); introduction of a soda tax; and about RM29bil in allocation for the Health Ministry, which is a 7.8% increase compared with 2018 (RM27bil).