Healthcare services remain BN's major focus

Healthcare services will remain a major focus for the Barisan Nasional (BN), with the coalition pledging to develop a national system that will provide every Malaysian with access to quality healthcare.

The coalition is also committed to establishing a card-carrying system for Malaysians with special needs which will enable them to enjoy discounted prices on specific medications.

These are contained in the BN manifesto themed 'A Promise of Hope' unveiled by Prime Minister and BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil tonight, ahead of the upcoming 13th general election.

Najib had announced the dissolution of the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday.

Outlining the BN's commitment if it is given another five-year mandate, the manifesto said plans are afoot to introduce a support system for palliative home care for the aged and terminally ill.

There is also the promise to provide public facilities for dialysis treatment in every high-density area as well as a heart and cancer centre in major hospitals in every zone encompassing the whole of the peninsular as well as Sabah and Sarawak.

"The government subsidises 90 per cent of all healthcare services to ensure access to quality treatment at the cheapest rates," the document said.

The manifesto said the BN had allocated RM66.1 billion for healthcare services from 2010 to 2013.

The BN had also committed to opening 70 more 1Malaysia clinics in addition to the 175 as at end-2012, and upgrading 350 government clinics throughout the country.

The BN under Najib's leadership had also made available funds for 150 dialysis machines in government haemodialysis centres across the country.

The BN government had also established facilities for cholesterol and urine tests at 1Malaysia clinics, the manifesto said.

It pointed out that the introduction of methadone replacement and needle-exchange programmes had resulted in the halving of new HIV cases since 2005.