KUALA LUMPUR – Various issues involving the health industry were addressed in Parliament today during the tabling of the revised Budget 2023 by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, including the insufficient number of doctors and overcrowding at government hospitals.
Anwar said health is the second-largest federal government allocation of RM36.3 billion. It is the biggest increase from last year’s RM32.4 billion.
The main component of the provision involves the procurement of medicines, reagents, vaccines, and consumables, including an allocation of RM3 billion for new permanent appointments and contracts for more than 1,500 medical, dental, and pharmacy officers.
“We will improve the overcrowding in health facilities including by outsourcing patients from overcrowded hospitals to other hospitals.
“We will also have several schemes including university hospitals and military hospitals that have agreed to be given equipment to help overcrowding hospitals such as the Selayang Hospital.”
Meanwhile, RM120 million is allocated for the introduction of the Madani Medicine Scheme to help the poor receive health treatment at clinics and private general practitioners as implemented by the Selangor government.
Charitable hospitals registered as Company Limited by Guarantee Exemption will be exempted from income tax.
Anwar also announced that the government will build a women’s and children’s block with a capacity of 476 beds at a cost of nearly RM700 million at Melaka Hospital.
The government also started preliminary work to upgrade 26 hospitals, including the expansion of the Kuala Kangsar, Jelebu, and Pontian hospitals, which are almost a century old.
Through the assessment year of 2023, the tax relief limit on medical treatment expenses is increased from RM8,000 to RM10,000.
This includes the rehabilitation of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, Down syndrome, and specific learning disabilities. – The Vibes, February 24, 2023
