THE nation’s transition towards an ageing nation is set to place substantial strain on its public healthcare system, driven by rising demand for geriatric services and treatment of non-communicable diseases.
Public health physician Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar warned that the growing number of elderly citizens would require expanded long-term care infrastructure, including nursing homes, home-based care and more complex medication management.
He noted that healthcare expenditure for older individuals is significantly higher than for younger populations, intensifying fiscal pressures on the system.
“Per capita healthcare costs for the elderly are three to five times higher than for younger groups, which places considerable strain on existing resources.
“Increased utilisation of government healthcare facilities is also contributing to the rise in national healthcare expenditure. Hospital capacity is becoming saturated, leading to longer waiting times for services such as specialist clinics and elective surgeries,” he said.
He added that the situation is placing growing pressure on healthcare workers, while government subsidies continue to rise sharply, raising concerns over the sustainability and quality of services without additional investment.
“However, the direct cost to the public remains low, creating a fiscal imbalance,” he said.
According to the latest data from Department of Statistics Malaysia as of April 2026, the number of Malaysians aged 60 and above has exceeded 4.1 million, accounting for approximately 11.6 to 12 per cent of the population.
Those aged 65 and above made up around 8 per cent in 2025, indicating the country is nearing the threshold of an aged nation.
Malaysia is projected to reach that status by as early as 2030, with the elderly population expected to rise to 5.8 million.
At the same time, increasing life expectancy—estimated at 76.93 years in 2025, with women living to 79.67 years and men to 74.63 years—means a larger proportion of the population will require sustained access to long-term healthcare services.
The demographic shift underscores the urgent need for comprehensive and sustainable policy planning to ensure the resilience of Malaysia’s healthcare system amid rising costs and demand. - April 7, 2026
