JOHOR BARU: The country's healthcare needs to adopt policies that tackle financial challenges and lay the groundwork for future sustainability and innovation.

Gleneagles Hospital Medini Johor chief executive officer (CEO) Dr Kamal Amzan, who is also IHH Healthcare Malaysia regional CEO (southern & eastern) has called for the urgent need to address current trajectory of the country's healthcare system.

He said transformative actions and a unified approach to sustainable reforms are required to address escalating healthcare costs, widening disparities in access and the risks of stymied innovation, apparent in Malaysia's healthcare system.

The reforms, he suggested, include adopting a value-based healthcare system that uses outcomes and patient satisfaction to guide healthcare and financing decisions.

He said without decisive healthcare reform in the next five to 10 years, medical treatments, hospital stays and medications will become unaffordable for the masses.

"Malaysia risks a future where quality healthcare is a privilege for the few rather than a universal right.

"If the healthcare growing gap in its availability and quality service is not addressed soon, certain groups may find it difficult to access healthcare services due to factors such as economic barriers, geographic isolation, or systemic inequalities.

"The future of the country's healthcare will struggle under the weight of an ageing population, burgeoning chronic diseases, and insufficient resources to meet the demands of its citizens," he said.

COMBINING SMART FINANCING AND INNOVATIONS TO SPARK CHANGE

Malaysia's goal is a healthcare system known for its accessibility, quality and resilience.

The system should embrace innovation not only for its novelty but also for its capacity to deliver tangible benefits to patients.

Dr Kamal said all Malaysians should have access to healthcare without worrying about the cost.

He believes that by emulating successful healthcare systems practised by countries like Singapore, Taiwan and Sweden, Malaysia too will be able to create a fair and lasting healthcare system for everyone.

Among sustainable solution is to replicate Singapore's healthcare financing model, which balances what people pay themselves with support from the community.

The system helps maintain high-quality healthcare while managing its costs.

Dr Kamal added that the financing model is important as it minimises the rising risks of lawsuits and insurance costs.

Singapore's approach combines personal health savings accounts, government help for those in need and regulated insurance, which creates a resilient system that Malaysia should adopt.

Taiwan's digital health system, including its smart card system, makes healthcare delivery more efficient and improves patient experiences, and Sweden's Value-Driven Outcomes (VDO) framework focuses on patient-centred care and responsible healthcare spending.

VDO prioritises outcomes and patient satisfaction in healthcare delivery and financing decisions.

Dr Kamal supports a policy approach that emphasises long-term sustainability and innovation.

In addressing the need for change in the country's healthcare system, he said Malaysia needs strong data collection and analysis, like Taiwan's digital system, to track and analyse patient outcomes.

Policies should also encourage the use of new technologies and methods, such as telemedicine and artificial intelligence-driven diagnostic tools to improve access, lower costs and enhance the quality of care.

KEY POLICY PRIORITIES FOR BETTER ACCESS, QUALITY AND INNOVATION

Dr Kamal envisions a healthcare system in which every Malaysian can get the care they need without worrying about financial hardship.

Malaysia needs to create a plan that not only addresses immediate financial challenges but also sets up a reliable healthcare system for the future.

This involves adopting a value-based healthcare approach similar to Sweden's system, where the focus is on patient outcomes and satisfaction when making decisions about care and costs.

To make this happen, Malaysia should build a strong data collection and analysis system like Taiwan's digital system, which allows for easy tracking and understanding of patient outcomes.

A FUTURE SHAPED BY FAIRNESS AND KINDNESS

To achieve this transformative journey, Malaysia's healthcare system requires a clear vision to achieve its key goal - to create a healthcare system that is accessible, of high quality and resilient.

"The system should adopt innovations and technologies, and embrace it for its genuine benefits to patients, not just because it is new," said Dr Kamal.

He said the healthcare system must ensure every Malaysian, despite their financial standing, can access the required care without worrying about its cost.

He believes that Malaysia is committed to protecting the health and wellbeing of her people, while it reforms the healthcare system sustainability for future generation.

Despite obstacles and challenges, with proper planning and determination, a healthcare system where Malaysians' health and wellbeing are safeguarded as cornerstones of national prosperity, is achievable.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/04/1042277/malaysias-healthcare-policies-need-reboot