PETALING JAYA: The government must urgently increase financial support for three vital healthcare regulatory and quality bodies to prevent standards from eroding, says Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM) president Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh.
Dr Kuljit identified the three bodies as the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC), the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC), and the Malaysian Society for Quality in Health (MSQH), describing them as the backbone of the country’s healthcare ecosystem.
"The MMC plays a central role in regulating medical practitioners and upholding professional standards, while MHTC drives Malaysia’s position as a leading destination for medical tourism, contributing significantly to national economic growth," Dr Kuljit said in a statement on Thursday (Sept 24).
"MSQH, meanwhile, is instrumental in advancing hospital accreditation, quality improvement, and patient safety across both public and private healthcare facilities."
Expressing concern over current funding levels—particularly as MSQH receives no direct government funding—Dr Kuljit urged Putrajaya to review allocations for all three institutions.
He warned that sustained underinvestment risks weakening regulatory oversight, compromising quality assurance, and eroding public trust.
"Ensuring adequate funding for these bodies is a necessary investment in patient safety, professional accountability, and public trust. Without sufficient support, the ability to maintain rigorous standards, enforce governance, and continuously improve care delivery will be significantly constrained," he said.
Dr Kuljit suggested that a portion of the revenue generated by Malaysia's growing medical tourism sector be reinvested into these regulatory, accreditation, and quality-assurance frameworks.
He added that APHM stands ready to work alongside the Health Ministry and key stakeholders to ensure these institutions receive proper support.
