THE Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) congratulates Khairy Jamaluddin on becoming the new Health Minister. I believe we can look forward to fresh, new and innovative ideas from the ministry under his leadership.
He had proved himself a capable leader in past ministries – Youth and Sports, and more recently, Science, Technology and Innovation, and the minister in charge of the National Immunisation Programme.
We wish to welcome him into his new role as we look forward to working more closely with the Health Ministry.
The Health Ministry is probably the most important ministry at this point in time as the country struggles to overcome the pandemic. We hope the setting up of a health commission to steer Malaysia out of the pandemic will be top on the minister’s agenda.
There are also many long-standing issues such as permanent positions for contract doctors which we hope will be resolved during his term in office. Perhaps Khairy Jamaluddin can be the minister to once and for all resolve this issue – in less than 100 days.
MMA looks forward to meeting with the minister soon, and arrange regular engagements with the ministry on healthcare policies.
We also hope there will be greater recognition of the important role of primary care in our healthcare ecosystem as well as the need for increased public-private cooperation and collaboration moving forward in the management of care for the nation.
We wish to take this opportunity to wish Khairy all the very best in this new chapter. – The Vibes, August 27, 2021
Datuk Dr Subramaniam Muniandy is president of the Malaysian Medical Association
