What MMA wants to see in Budget 2014

The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) through its president Datuk Dr N.K.S. Tharmaseelan has shared its wishlist for the Budget 2014 that will be presented by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Oct 25.

The list includes:

• Giving a bigger allocation from the Government to the health budget from 2.2% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) now. (The existing 4.7% of GDP is due to 2.5 % contribution from the private sector);

• Setting up an electronic data collection system. The Government should allocate a grant for upgrading IT facilities for all private clinics. This will improve data collection that is requested for by the government;

• All medical devices including transplants and drugs should be tax-exempted;

• More grants for research into various aspects of medicine;

• Care for the elderly and the aging; they should receive more tax exemption;

• Set up a separate health fund similar to Socso and EPF with mandatory contributions both by government and individual;

• Set up insurance schemes for those above 65 years;

• Introduce 1Malaysia nursing/ retirement homes for the aging;

• Funds allocation to build more 1Malaysia clinics in rural areas and the 1Malaysia clinics in the urban areas to be transformed into 1Day Care Centres. Also to build more such centres nationwide. This could provide jobs for 20,000-odd trained nurses who are unemployed and allow productivity by those hampered in looking after the aged and the young whilst employed;

• Remove sugar subsidies and allocate the savings to healthcare;

• 'Sin tax' on tobacco and alcohol to be diverted for providing healthcare for those 'ravaged' by these unhealthy habits;

• There is certainly going to be a surplus of new doctors unless the Government builds more hospitals. Only two were built over the last five years, from 130 to 132 hospitals. Allocation for infrastructure in Health Ministry should also be increased;

• District hospitals should be upgraded (from a separate budget allocation) to provide training for housemen and training.