Building more hospitals not the answer

THE Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy agrees with the Health Ministry’s deputy secretary-general (finance) Norazman Ayob’s recent comments that too many Malaysians are becoming ill with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and straining the country’s healthcare system. The Galen Centre also believes that simply building more hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities does not address the root of the problem and could instead cause more harm.

The Health Ministry’s 2023 National Health and Morbidity Survey says 54.4% of Malaysians are either overweight or obese. And over half a million people are living with four NCDs: diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and obesity. Diabetes is one of the top causes of death in Malaysia, with more than five million people living with chronic kidney disease.