“I do not think that Fadillah’s statement is wrong. He is trying to emphasise that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are lifestyle-related,” said Dr Lee Boon Chye.
Recently, Fadillah told the Dewan Rakyat that public hospitals were congested because of the quality of healthcare services which were provided at almost no cost.
He also raised concern that unhealthy lifestyles contributed to people having to seek medical attention.
A report by the World Health Organization last year highlighted that NCDs were the main cause of death and disability in Malaysia and that the prevalence of NCDs was increasingly putting a strain on the public health system.
Lee said although the government had extended the operating hours of government clinics and outsourced healthcare services to private hospitals, more could be done.
“I would recommend online consultations for patients with minor illnesses,” he said, adding these patients could then obtain a prescription and buy their medication from pharmacies.
MMA president Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai said there was a need for more education on the importance of healthy lifestyles in disease prevention.
He said congestion at public healthcare facilities was due to the quality and low cost of treatment, as well as staff shortages and a growing population.
“It should also be noted that when healthcare is heavily subsidised, there can be a tendency for the people to not value the public healthcare system and its facilities and take health lightly,” he told FMT.
Muruga said MMA agreed with the government’s approach to working with the private sector including general practitioner clinics (GPs).
“Likewise, the management of NCD cases should also be referred to the private GPs as a high number of the patients waiting long hours at public hospitals and clinics are NCD patients who go for their follow-ups. “
Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy CEO Azrul Khalib said Fadillah highlighted an important point, that the majority of the population depended on the public healthcare system.
“This involves more than 70% of the population,” he said.
He said Fadillah also emphasised the importance of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals in making the delivery of essential health services possible.
Azrul said, however, that the cost of public healthcare services was not low and was actually similar to those in the private sector.
“But as almost 98% of healthcare costs are subsidised by taxpayers or public funds, it seems that public healthcare is free or inexpensive,” he said.
“This is a misconception, and legislators must be reminded that current healthcare financing in Malaysia is not sustainable and needs immediate reform.”