KUALA LUMPUR – With Budget 2021 looming, health experts are urging the government to reorganise its spending, with more allocation given to the Health Ministry and less to ministries playing “second fiddle”.
Health experts said this should be the case with the focus on stemming the Covid-19 pandemic next year.
Former deputy health minister Dr Lee Boon Chye said the resetting of priorities is particularly vital if the government wishes to jumpstart the economy.
He said restarting the economy would be impossible unless the pandemic comes under control, which requires a bigger “financial investment”.
“Apart from public health, the budget for economic sectors should be reorganised, as some will be less relevant in the next year or two, like the tourism ministry. There is no point spending on promoting tourism when people cannot travel.
“The same can be said about the International Trade and Industry Ministry. There won’t be many trade missions, for instance, that will be taking place next year to draw investments. So, the budget for these sectors can be cut.
“The fight against Covid-19 should be the priority. The government must reset its priorities for the next couple of years,” he told The Vibes.
Lee said the Health Ministry would require an additional allocation of between RM5 billion and RM10 billion, compared to previous years, to be running at full speed.
Last year, the Health Ministry was allocated RM30.6 billion, of which RM27.94 billion went to operating expenditure and the remaining RM2.66 billion for development.
“RM30 billion is certainly not enough, under such unique circumstances. Looking at anti-Covid efforts alone, the ministry will need billions more, somewhere between RM35 billion and RM40 billion.”
Among other things, Lee said funds are desperately needed to hire more health officials as soon as possible for the purpose of screening and contact tracing and to address the shortage of supplies and equipment.
Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Prof Datuk Dr M. Subramaniam similarly proposed that the budget allocation for certain ministries be slashed in favour of the Health Ministry.
He said these additional funding to combat Covid-19 can be used to replace overused hospital equipment, such as the personal protective equipment (PPE), and promote existing contract staff to a permanent basis, among others.
“At the moment, many ministries are almost dormant, they can’t do anything because of Covid-19. The Tourism Ministry, for example, doesn't have much to do at the moment.
“So the government can save money on certain ministries and use it on what is necessary and required, namely for the health fraternity,” he said. – The Vibes, November 4, 2020
