Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi (Independent-Tanjung Karang) pointed out that only RM50 million was allocated for the medical scheme under the 2026 budget, down from the RM100 million this year.
“At a time when medical inflation goes up 11% annually, with basic medical treatment in private clinics increasing by 8% to 15%, the government decided to slash (funds) for healthcare protection of its people,” he said while debating the Supply Bill (Budget) 2026 at the committee stage for the health ministry in the Dewan Rakyat.
Zulkafperi also questioned whether the budget cut signals the government’s recognition of the scheme’s limitations.
He said the scheme is currently limited to Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) aid recipients and does not cover medicines for chronic illnesses, screenings for non-communicable diseases, follow-up treatments, mental healthcare or physiotherapy.
“This is basically a scheme where you go to the clinic once, and the rest depends on (your) luck,” he said.
With an RM50 million budget and average medical costs of RM70 to RM80 per visit, Zulkafperi said the scheme could cover only 600,000 to 700,000 patients.
This is despite the fact that there are 4.4 million Malaysians identified as belonging to the B40 group, he said.
“This is not health coverage, but a ‘siapa cepat dia dapat’ (whoever is fast, they get it) scheme.
“Therefore, the people need a national health insurance scheme that covers everyone, not four to five schemes that are separate from one another,” he said.
The Madani medical scheme is an initiative by the government through the health ministry to cover the medical needs of the B40 group, and is offered automatically to STR recipients by covering the cost of treatment for minor ailments at nearby private clinics.
Later in his winding-up speech, deputy health minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni explained that halving the scheme’s budget allows the government to provide targeted acute primary care to recipients in 10 currently covered districts.
The 10 districts are Kuala Lumpur, Gombak, Hulu Langat, Petaling, Klang, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Kinta district in Perak and the Northeast District in Penang.