SANDAKAN: Malaysia must urgently shift from a treatment-focused healthcare system to prevention, as the cost of managing diseases continues to exceed the Health Ministry’s budget.
Health Minister Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad said the annual cost of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) has reached RM64.3bil, comprising RM12.4bil in medical treatment costs and a massive RM51.8bil 'hidden' loss to national productivity caused by absenteeism and premature deaths.
The Ministry’s allocation for Budget 2026 stands at RM46.52bil.
“This means the cost of dealing with the consequences of non-communicable diseases far exceeds the entire ministry’s budget,” he said when launching the Wellness Hub Sandakan on Saturday (May 2).
“Therefore, we cannot continue to depend only on treating diseases. We must shift towards prevention and empowering the people.”
Dzulkefly said strengthening health literacy and encouraging healthier lifestyles are key to reducing long-term healthcare costs.
He pointed to Sabah’s concerning health indicators, with obesity rates at 50.4%, high cholesterol affecting 32.1% of the population, smoking prevalence at 24.9%, and sedentary behaviour at 57.7%, exceeding the national average.
“These figures show that the burden of non-communicable diseases in Sabah is equally worrying,” he said.
He stressed that tackling the issue requires a collective effort.
“Health is a shared responsibility. The ministry cannot move alone without a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach,” he said.
The Wellness Hub initiative is part of that shift, focusing on preventive care through community-based programmes and behavioural change.
The Sandakan facility is the fifth in Sabah, after Putatan, Keningau, Kudat and Lahad Datu, and the 35th nationwide, offering services such as health guidance, interventions and lifestyle support closer to the community.
Dzulkefly said the hub will also help address malnutrition and stunting among children through nutrition counselling and early intervention.
Community participation remains central to the effort, with 2,425 MyCHAMPION volunteers in Sabah carrying out 3,088 activities as of April 2026, including health screenings, outreach programmes and hygiene initiatives.
Meanwhile, he said access to healthcare in rural areas is being expanded through the Sihat Xpress Health Kiosk, which enables self-screening for BMI, blood pressure, blood glucose, oxygen levels and body temperature, as well as teleconsultation with private general practitioners.
The initiative, developed through a public-private partnership, is set to be expanded to 75 new locations, including 23 in Sabah and 52 in Sarawak, by 2029.
“Investing in wellbeing today is a guarantee for a more prosperous future,” he said.
