PUTRAJAYA: The Senior Citizens Bill should be expedited to better meet the needs of an ageing population, says Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
He added that findings from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2025 can help to shape its implementation.
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"The findings (of the survey) clearly call for urgent action on the Bill.
"The interventions outlined in the Bill, which will form part of our legal framework, are crucial in safeguarding senior citizens' rights, including access to facilities and services.
"As a minister, alongside my Cabinet colleagues, I want to see this Bill fast-tracked.
"This is important because we cannot start addressing ageing issues only when individuals reach their 60s," he said during the launching of the NHMS 2025 results here on Monday (April 20).
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"We need to begin earlier, in their 50s. That gives us a decade to ensure they remain healthy, so that by the time they enter their 60s, issues such as non-communicable diseases (NCD), cognitive decline, frailty and falls can be better managed.
"If we start too late, we will always be playing catch-up and operating in crisis mode.
"That is why a whole-of-government approach is essential. The Health Ministry fully supports expediting the Bill to complement our National Healthcare Services Action Plan as well as the National Dementia Action Plan," he said.
