What Lies Ahead for Malaysian Healthcare?

Abstract

Healthcare in Malaysia has been characterised by a strong public sector presence where government hospitals and clinics acted as a primary source of care. The healthcare system has also been lauded as a model for other developing countries to follow as it has succeeded in improving the health status of Malaysians over time. With the rising costs of healthcare over the last three decades, the government is now facing increasing pressures to restructure its healthcare system. Social healthcare insurance, corporatisation, and privatisation have been increasingly seen as possible measures to supplement the current healthcare system dominated by the public sector. In Malaysia, the involvement of government-linked companies in the private healthcare sector has, however, raised conflict-of-interest issues. Political economy factors will continue to play out; the private sector will continue to play an increasingly important role in the provision of healthcare while a long-awaited social healthcare insurance plan takes shape. Ultimately, clear rules of governance, regulations, and transparency have to be put in place to ensure that standards are maintained, conflict-of-interest issues are checked,mand that healthcare continues to remain accessible.