KOTA KINABALU: The Health Ministry will submit a counter-proposal to safeguard non-negotiable core healthcare services from a proposed 10% budget cut for the sector.
Its minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad stressed that essential services, including emergency care, medicines and medical supplies, must be protected as they form the backbone of public healthcare.
“If it involves emergency healthcare services and medicines, we would say it is almost non-negotiable.
“This is because we know the Health Ministry is responsible for achieving universal health coverage nationwide,” he said after launching the Sandakan Wellness Hub yesterday.
Dzulkefly said the proposal to reduce the ministry’s budget came from the Treasury, but discussions are ongoing, with the ministry preparing its response.
The minister said the counter-proposal will be submitted in the near term, adding that any cost-saving measures should not involve critical areas such as patient care, medicine supply, or medical requirements.
The ministry’s secretary-general would lead engagements on the matter, with input from relevant stakeholders before final recommendations are submitted, Dzulkefly said.
“Our public healthcare facilities provide basic and essential services.
“These are fundamental requirements in ensuring quality healthcare delivery,” he said.
However, he indicated that adjustments could be considered in areas such as unfilled positions or deferred staffing needs, rather than affecting frontline services.
This comes after the Finance Ministry confirmed on Wednesday that there were plans for a budget recalibration across all ministries, but only involving non-critical expenditure.
