logo
Govt finalising wait time plan

Govt finalising wait time plan

The Star16 hours ago
Issue at hospitals nationwide being reviewed in detail, says Zulkefly
PUTRAJAYA: A plan to reduce frequent excessive waiting times at government hospitals nationwide is in the final phase of deve­lopment, says Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad ( pic ).
He added that his ministry had been looking into resolving the long-standing issue since last year even before he took o­ver the minister's post.
'The matter is being reviewed in detail through enga­gement sessions with other relevant ministries and agencies and is in its final phase of dev­e­lopment. When it is ready, we will make an official announcement.
'But for now, we ask that the people give us time to be thoro­ugh in solving this key issue,' he said at a press conference at the Safe Food Expo here yesterday.
Dzulkefly declined to confirm whether the long waiting times were caused by a shortage in medical personnel.
Earlier in his speech, he said that the rate of food poisoning cases in Malaysia has dropped by more than 20% so far this year compared to 2024.
He added that 204 food poisoning cases were reported as of May this year, compa­red to 707 cases repor­ted in 2024.
'This encouraging trend shows a slight decrease of 23% in food poisoning cases compared to the same period last year. We will continue our efforts to educate the public on the steps they can take to prevent food poisoning and hope to further enhance public knowledge on food safety.
'But we must remember that we ourselves are responsible for verifying the authenticity of information related to food safety and protecting ourselves from food poisoning,' he said.
Dzulkefly added that the primary cause of food poisoning cases in the country are due to bacteria infections such as E. Coli and salmonella bacteria that is commonly found in undercooked or unsa­ni­tary food.
He also said almost 2,000 eateries have managed to obtain Clean and Safe Recognition (BeSS) status, making the total number of eateries having the certificate to 13, 998 from 11,200 premises this year.
He added that this 24.9% inc­rease marked a significant positive milestone in improving food safety in the country with a show of unity from businesses.
'This shows the growing commitment of various stakeholders in the food industry to ensure safer and higher-quality food for Malaysians,' he said.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Beliawanis MCA: Mental health solutions must be emotionally inclusive, unbiased
Beliawanis MCA: Mental health solutions must be emotionally inclusive, unbiased

Focus Malaysia

time11 hours ago

  • Focus Malaysia

Beliawanis MCA: Mental health solutions must be emotionally inclusive, unbiased

BELIAWANIS MCA has expressed concern over the recent report revealing that over 1,000 secondary school students are at risk of depression. Its national chairperson Ivone Low Yi Wen was referring to a statement made by State Public Health and Environment Committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin on Monday (July 7). Jamaliah told the Selangor State Legislative Assembly that a total of 1,020 out of 36,428 secondary school students in Selangor have shown early signs of being at high risk for depression. The Bandar Utama assemblywoman also said the findings, based on the Minda Sihat (Healthy Mind) Mental Health Screening Analysis for the 2024/2025 school session, indicated that overall psychosocial behaviour among students remains under control. Stressing on the importance of speaking out about mental health, Low said while the situation remains under control, there is still room for improvement. 'While significant strides have been made to address it and reduce the stigma surrounding it, we must continue our efforts to acknowledge the very real challenges that students with depression face,' she remarked. First and foremost, according to Low, funding for mental health programmes must be adequate as depression, alongside other mental health conditions such as anxiety, bipolar disorder and even learning disabilities such as ADHD, can have severe consequences if left untreated. 'Sufficient funding would ensure that intervention programmes are taken seriously, making it clear that these are not just empty words but essential initiatives for positive change,' she added. She further stressed that mental health issues must be addressed at all levels regardless whether students have been formally diagnosed with depression or otherwise. 'For example, the risk of mental illness should be taught in a formal and serious manner, rather than being dismissed or laughed off as something that 'can't happen to me'. It is vital to recognise that these issues should never be trivialised,' she said. 'Just because one may not personally experience them does not make them any less important; mental health can affect anyone.' Regarding school programmes and the current scope of intervention at educational levels, Low also suggested that regular checks should be carried out to ensure that new initiatives are being implemented effectively and treated with the seriousness they deserve. This should not be seen as an additional burden on already overloaded curricula as there must be a balance between strong implementation and a compassionate, supportive environment for affected students. Low said these modules should not focus solely on techniques but also emphasise the importance of teacher/educator and peer support as teaching about mental health is pointless if there is no emotional support available. 'Finally, fellow Malaysians must also examine how we conduct ourselves as a society and whether our behaviours are contributing to the rising rates of mental health issues,' she reckoned. 'Factors such as academic pressure, unhealthy habits, family stress, and other potential stressors could be exacerbating the mental health crisis. To truly address depression, we must look at the issue from all angles.' ‒ July 8, 2025 Main image: Pexels/Mikhail Nilov

Medical officer placement results now available via ePlacement system
Medical officer placement results now available via ePlacement system

The Sun

time12 hours ago

  • The Sun

Medical officer placement results now available via ePlacement system

PUTRAJAYA: The results for the placement of 2,248 contract medical officers under Grade UD10 who have been offered permanent appointments are now available through the ePlacement system. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad confirmed that candidates can check their placements starting today. Those wishing to appeal for a change of placement must submit their requests via a Google Form provided in the ePlacement announcement. The appeal period runs from July 8 at 10 am until July 14 at 5 pm. Only appeals with complete documentation submitted within this timeframe will be reviewed by the Placement and Transfer Appeals Committee (JKPP). Dzulkefly emphasized that appeals submitted outside the specified period will not be considered. This measure ensures timely decision-making without disrupting the reporting schedule for duty at assigned placements. The appeal results will be announced on August 19, accessible through the same system. The minister highlighted the ministry's commitment to strengthening Malaysia's public health system by integrating MADANI values, including Sustainability, Well-being, and Creativity. He expressed confidence that these principles will help address future challenges in public health. In response to a proposal by CUEPACS regarding digital medical certificates (MCs) to prevent misuse, Dzulkefly stated that the ministry is currently reviewing the matter. - Bernama

Private hospitals face margin pressure from DRG System
Private hospitals face margin pressure from DRG System

Focus Malaysia

time12 hours ago

  • Focus Malaysia

Private hospitals face margin pressure from DRG System

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has reaffirmed that private healthcare providers will still be required to implement the diagnosis-related group (DRG) system, although the initial roll-out will be limited to selected public hospitals. The official implementation timeline for the DRG system will be determined by a newly established joint ministerial committee, co-chaired by the finance and health ministers, alongside Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and private sector stakeholders. Also noted that DRG forms part of the MOH's shift towards value-based healthcare, where providers are reimbursed based on outcomes and cost-effectiveness rather than volume of services. 'We are positive on the recently announced news flow on efforts undertaking towards a major revamped in the healthcare sector is a step in the right direction,' said Kenanga Research. However, the implementation of the DRG system could put pressure on margins for private hospitals but the near-term impact could be minimal as the initial roll-out is expected to target lower-value or minor illnesses. Overall, we are still positive on the private healthcare sector as investors could gravitate towards the defensive nature of healthcare stocks amid a more risk-off environment and taking a view of longer-term growth prospects of the healthcare sector, which will continue to be underpinned by an ageing population, rising affluence and cases of chronic diseases globally. The Ministry of Finance (MOF) via its press release gave details on sales tax revision including an imposition of 6% sales tax on private healthcare operators which applies only to non-citizens; all Malaysians remain exempt, including for traditional and allied health services. We believe private healthcare operators would be less affected by the recently announced 6% sales tax imposition. Separately, we believe there is an urgent need to address national healthcare financing to ensure equitable access to healthcare for all Malaysians, irrespective of their income. Presently, Malaysia has a dual healthcare funding system i.e. private and public. The private healthcare system is paid for by consumers via 'out of pocket' and private healthcare insurance (personal, corporate or employers). On the other hand, the public healthcare budget is borne by the government (i.e. tax payers) via mainly the Ministry of Health and to some extent the Ministry of Higher Education (university hospitals) and Ministry of Defence. Briefly, it is a multi-payor, multi-provider system with payors including federal and state agencies, local authorities, SOCSO and the EPF. In our view, a revamped healthcare insurance system could lead to better overall healthcare services for Malaysians, lower out-of-pocket spending, reduced waiting times and access to more modern medicines and technology. For illustration purposes, the system could entail a hybrid version i.e. similar to the Australian system of a single-payer, multipleprovider arrangement, where public and private hospitals would provide equal facilities and functions to a patient (vs. current: multi-payer multi-provider system). Basically, it would mean that everyone has to contribute. Theoretically, all working citizens are obligated to set aside a portion of their income into a fund which they can draw upon to pay their own medical bills when the need arises. —July 8, 2025 Main image: New Straits Times

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store