No community is hit harder by problems related to ill health than the B40. While a highly affordable public healthcare system has been the priority of every Malaysian government, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s administration is further improving the situation for the B40 group.
Healthcare initiatives for the B40
In February, Anwar, who is also finance minister, announced a RM36.3 billion allocation for the health ministry, mainly for its operational expenditure. A slew of measures to cater to the B40 was also announced.
Among them are mobile health clinics, the Madani Medical Scheme, and the Peduli Kesihatan Scheme for the B40 group (PeKa B40) for health screening, which has now been expanded to include screening for diabetes.
The Madani Medical Scheme – backed by an allocation of RM100 million – is essentially a credit facility for the B40 group which allows them to seek treatment from private clinics. Some 700,000 households are expected to benefit from the scheme.
Game changer
Health think tank Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy said the budget measures, particularly the Madani Medical Scheme, could be a game changer.
“We have already seen this proven public-private partnership model from Selangor and ProtectHealth,” Galen CEO Azrul Khalib told FMT.
“This scheme could significantly relieve the pressure and burden on congested emergency departments at public hospitals across the country.”
However, Azrul said the success of the government’s initiative depended on the buy-in from the B40 group, and that an important part of this was the promotion of the scheme.
Azrul said there was room for improvement in the communication of the initiatives.
“People need to know what this scheme is, how it is useful, why they should use it, which clinics are participating and most importantly, how it is relevant to them in relation to their health.”
Under the budget, subsidies are also being provided for mammograms, while a cervical cancer screening programme using a new PCR method has been introduced.
Research projects such as the implementation of diagnostic studies and clinical trials of cervical and colon cancer are also supported in order to provide affordable medicine and treatment for all.
Several development projects are also underway, including the construction of a women’s and children’s block with a capacity of 476 beds to reduce overcrowding at Hospital Melaka.
There are also plans to upgrade 26 hospitals, including the further expansion of Hospital Kuala Kangsar in Perak, Hospital Jelebu in Negeri Sembilan and Hospital Pontian in Johor.