12MP: Blueprint for Malaysia healthcare system reform

In designing this blueprint, it said a study will be undertaken to strengthen the healthcare sector landscape which will include public healthcare sector transformation, private healthcare sector regulatory reform and sustainable health financing.

The plan and study are efforts to introduce healthcare policy under the redesigning the healthcare service strategy to enhance the healthcare service delivery which is one of the priorities of the 12th Malaysia Plan tabled at the Dewan Rakyat today.

The document said several policies targetting specific health needs will be introduced such as oral healthcare, mental health, immunisation policies while food safety policies will be reviewed to protect the public against health hazards and fraud in the food supply chain including preparation, sale and use of food.

Five other measures under redesigning the healthcare service strategy are combatting communicable diseases, combatting non-communicable diseases, strengthening healthcare programmes for older persons, increasing preparedness in handling health crises and ensuring quality and accessibility of healthcare services.

According to the document, the other two strategies in enhancing healthcare service delivery are strengthening health financing and public awareness as well as leveraging technology.

To strengthen the health financing and public awareness strategy, financial sustainability for healthcare will be ensured, health protection will be strengthened and health literacy, as well as awareness, will be enhanced.

"Social media platforms will be leveraged to invigorate health literacy and counter misleading information that exacerbates health issues," it said.

The third strategy is to enhance the healthcare service delivery is leveraging technology through digitalising healthcare services and improving research, development and innovation capacity.