Kuala Lumpur, 4 November 2024 — The Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy agrees with the Ministry of Health’s deputy secretary general (finance) Norazman Ayob’s recent comments that too many Malaysians were becoming ill with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), needing treatment and hospitalisation and causing tremendous strain on the country’s healthcare system. The Galen Centre also believes that simply building more hospitals, clinics and other healthcare facilities  do not address the root of the problem and could instead cause more harm.  

“The findings from the Ministry of Health’s National Health and Morbidity Surveys, especially the most recent one from 2023 are quite stark. 54.4% of Malaysians are either overweight or obese. Almost 1 in 4 persons are obese. Over half a million people are living with four NCDs, diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and obesity. Around 2.3 million are living with three of those diseases,” Azrul Mohd Khalib, Chief Executive of the Galen Centre for Health & Social Policy pointed out.

“Diabetes is one of the top causes of death in Malaysia. 1 in 6 adult Malaysians are living with diabetes. Among the highest rates in the region. At least 15.5% or more than 5 million people are living with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Each day, 28 individuals in this country will have been newly diagnosed with kidneys that have permanently failed, needing dialysis to live. More children are becoming diabetic and obese. Kids are being diagnosed with high blood pressure. The list goes on.”

“The reason why there is rising demand for medical care where hospital beds are full and clinics are packed with patients, is because Malaysians are getting increasingly ill and become burdened by chronic diseases which affect their productivity, quality of life, and ability to live.”

“The excessive demand and burden on the healthcare system must be reduced. Malaysians need to take charge, be encouraged to be healthier, more active, and care about their health and those of their family members and community,” Azrul emphasised.

“We need to summon the political will and social support to get serious and consistent about policies which affect health and the surrounding environment. Malaysians consume an average 12 teaspoons of sugar per day from beverages alone. A war on sugar has been declared and an increase in the sugar-sweetened beverage tax has been announced, yet the government continues to subsidise sugar up to RM 600 million annually, making it artificially cheaper in this country. Politicians are opposed to restricting late night eateries despite evidence which show that late eating is associated with increased obesity risk, increased body fat, impaired weight loss success and onset of chronic diseases such as diabetes. Amputations due to diabetes have even become jokes and memes on social media.”

“During the ongoing parliamentary session, we also heard multiple requests from Members of Parliament to build more hospitals, clinics and haemodialysis centres in their constituencies. We have not heard a single request or proposal to address the massive shortage of doctors, nurses and various medical personnel affecting both the public and private health sectors. We need to invest in recruiting and retaining more healthcare professionals,” Azrul pointed out.

“This shows an incomplete understanding of what is needed to protect and support our public healthcare system.  This is not a computer game where a single click to build a hospital automatically comes with staff. We need the government to introduce initiatives which encourage and incentivise people to be interested in building careers and taking up jobs in healthcare. On the other hand, building more healthcare facilities today even in East Malaysia where the need is great, will instead create massive manpower shortages and imbalance as we do not have doctors, nurses and medical staff to fill them.”