RM3.06 bln health budget cut could hurt patient care, worsen staffing shortages nationwide

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, April 30: Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii has urged the Ministry of Finance (MOF) to reconsider plans to cut up to RM3.06 billion from the already overstretched Health Ministry budget, warning that the move could seriously impact patient care and strain Malaysia’s public healthcare system further amid global supply pressures.

Dr Yii said while he understands the federal government’s need for prudent fiscal management in response to global supply challenges, the proposed reduction in healthcare allocation risks creating unintended consequences that would directly affect frontline services and patients.

He cautioned that the Health Ministry is already operating under significant strain, with chronic shortages in staffing, resources, and infrastructure.

“Cutting such a substantial amount, reportedly around RM3.06 billion out of a broader RM10 billion savings target across ministries, would represent roughly a third of the overall adjustment and appears disproportionate,” he said in a statement today.

Yii emphasised that Malaysia’s public healthcare system remains a critical safety net for millions, but it is already “buckling under pressure”.

“Any further budget tightening could translate into postponed surgeries, longer waiting times, medicine shortages, deteriorating hospital facilities, and increased workload for exhausted medical staff.

“In severe cases, it could even lead to preventable complications and avoidable deaths,” he warned.

He stressed that the most affected would be vulnerable groups, including low-income households, elderly patients, those with chronic illnesses, children, and rural communities, particularly in Sabah and Sarawak, where access to healthcare is already limited.

“Let’s not forget, more than 70 per cent of Malaysians rely on public healthcare system for their needs,” he added.

Dr Yii further highlighted the ongoing workforce shortage, stating that Sabah and Sarawak alone are estimated to be short of up to 6,000 doctors, exacerbating the pressure on existing medical personnel.

He emphasised that healthcare spending should not be viewed purely as a cost to be reduced, but as a long-term public investment that underpins national productivity, economic stability, and social well-being.

“The Health Ministry must not be treated as an easy source of savings,” he said, adding that any fiscal recalibration should be carefully assessed to avoid undermining essential services.

He has therefore called on the Ministry of Finance Malaysia to reconsider the planned cuts and urged greater transparency from the Ministry of Health Malaysia on any potential savings measures, ensuring they do not compromise healthcare delivery or demoralise healthcare workers. — DayakDaily

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