Latest news with #AzrulMohdKhalib
New Straits Times
21-07-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
Guidelines alone won't stop bullying, healthcare groups warn
KUALA LUMPUR: Healthcare groups, in welcoming the Health Ministry's anti-bullying guidelines, stress the need for greater transparency, trust and leadership to drive systemic change. The guidelines, to be launched in October, will include secure and confidential complaint channels and psychosocial support for victims. They also outline clear protocols to prevent, report and manage workplace bullying involving ministry personnel. Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Datuk Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira said the association had long raised concerns over bullying in the sector. He views the ministry's efforts as a step in the right direction. However, he called for broader engagement and public disclosure of the draft guidelines before they were finalised. "MMA's experience in handling bullying complaints can help ensure the measures are effective and practical." He added that MMA maintained a zero-tolerance stance on bullying and that a safe, respectful environment for healthcare workers was essential to ensure high standards of patient care. The Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy said the guidelines' success would depend on the system's credibility and public confidence in how complaints were handled. Its chief executive, Azrul Mohd Khalib, said regular reporting of bullying cases, including outcomes and remedial actions, should be made available — potentially through an online dashboard — to promote accountability and transparency. "This move signals that bullying allegations will be taken seriously and places responsibility on supervisors and Ministry leadership to act." He added that while the provision of confidential channels and psychosocial support was a positive step, the long-term effectiveness of the initiative would depend on how well it is implemented, particularly in overcoming bureaucratic inertia and institutional mistrust. "There must be leadership from the top — from the minister down to state directors and hospital administrators. Training and briefings are key to building confidence in the system. Leaders must lead by example." Hartal Doktor Kontrak lauded the initiative as timely but added that guidelines alone were not enough. Its spokesman, Dr Muhammad Yassin, said enforcement would be the real test. He said that the complaint system's success would depend on its ability to maintain confidentiality. To ensure consistent enforcement in all facilities, Yassin proposed a national-level audit by an independent body to track bullying cases and responses. "Any delays or lack of investigation must be examined to avoid abuse of power," he added. Currently, healthcare workers can report bullying cases through the MyHelp portal, launched in October 2022. Reports must be investigated within 15 working days, depending on whether they are classified as standard or complex.
New Straits Times
20-07-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
Transparency, action keys to building trust in tackling workplace bullying in public healthcare sector '
KUALA LUMPUR: Confidential complaint channels and support systems for victims are crucial in addressing workplace bullying in the public healthcare sector, says Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy. Its chief executive Azrul Mohd Khalib said these mechanisms must be supported with regular reporting of incidents, actions taken and remedial measures — potentially through online dashboards — to ensure transparency and accountability. "It sends a right and positive signal that allegations of workplace bullying and related issues will be taken seriously. "This move provides a framework for such complaints to be properly handled and places accountability on supervisors and the Health Ministry's leadership," he told the New Straits Times. Azrul was commenting on Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad's statement that a secure complaint channel and psychosocial support are among the key features of the ministry's upcoming workplace bullying guidelines, scheduled for launch this October. The guidelines, which will apply to all Health Ministry personnel, outline structured measures to prevent, report, and manage bullying incidents across the ministry. He said the guidelines will include designated reporting channels that ensure confidentiality and protection for complainants. Currently, bullying cases can be reported through the MyHELP portal, which was launched on Oct 1, 2022. Reports submitted online must be investigated within 15 working days, depending on whether the case is classified as standard or complex. Azrul said that while the proposed confidential complaint channels and psychosocial support mechanisms were a step in the right direction, their success would depend on implementation and trust in the system. "The key factor is to ensure confidentiality is protected and that these mechanisms function effectively. It must work through decades of institutional inertia and distrust of bureaucracy," he said. To ensure the guidelines are enforced effectively nationwide, he said leadership must set the tone — from the minister down to heads of divisions, state health directors and frontliners at hospitals and clinics. "There must be training and briefings to show that these guidelines are being taken seriously. Leaders must lead by example to build trust in the system," he said.
Focus Malaysia
16-07-2025
- Health
- Focus Malaysia
Galen Centre: Breast cancer must be recognised in the 2025 United Nations Political Declaration on NCDs and Mental Health
THE Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy has called for the United Nations and its member states to explicitly recognise breast cancer as a priority disease area within the final Political Declaration to be adopted during the 4th High-Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in New York this September. Its chief executive Azrul Mohd Khalib said the ommission of breast cancer in the zero draft of the 2025 Political Declaration on NCDs and Mental Health is a serious oversight that fails to reflect the lived realities and urgent public health needs of millions of women across Southeast Asia, including Malaysia. 'We call for Malaysia, as chair of ASEAN for 2025 and a leader of this region, to take up this call to include breast cancer in this important declaration,' he said. 'In Malaysia, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer deaths among women, accounting for over 30% of all female cancers. Nine women lose their lives to breast cancer each day.' Citing the Malaysian National Cancer Registry Report 2012–2016, Azrul further noted that one in 19 women is at risk of developing breast cancer in her lifetime. Worryingly, over 47% of cases are detected at late stages (Stage 3 or 4), when survival rates are significantly lower and treatment costs exponentially higher. Unfortunately, Malaysia's 5 year survival rate for breast cancer is among the worst in the Asia-Pacific region. Meanwhile, a study by Universiti Putra Malaysia found that 13.6% of women in Malaysia are diagnosed before the age of 40, which is higher than in Western countries. 'The burden of breast cancer is not only medical—it is social, economic, and deeply gendered. Many women face barriers to early detection, including stigma, low awareness, lack of access to mammograms, and unaffordable treatment options,' Azrul continued. 'The disease also disproportionately affects women in low- and middle-income countries in the region, where health systems are under strain and cancer care infrastructure remains underdeveloped. We cannot afford to leave out breast cancer in this important declaration. 'In Southeast Asia, the incidence of breast cancer has risen steadily, compounded by increasing urbanisation, lifestyle changes, and ageing populations. 'Health illiteracy, the lack of structured national screening programmes and delays in diagnosis contribute to high mortality rates across the Southeast Asian region. 'We strongly echo the sentiments expressed by global health advocates that breast cancer cannot be excluded from global NCD agendas. It is a leading cause of premature death among women and demands a concerted, multisectoral response.' The Galen Centre calls for the 2025 United Nations Political Declaration on NCDs and Mental Health to: Explicitly include breast cancer as a priority NCD within the global agenda; Recognise the unique challenges faced by women in low- and middle-income countries in accessing breast cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care; Support equity in cancer control, including commitments to universal health coverage, affordable medicines, early detection programmes, and investments in oncology infrastructure; and Promote national cancer control strategies that integrate breast cancer prevention and treatment, with measurable targets and accountability frameworks. 'No woman should be left behind in the fight against NCDs. Breast cancer should be recognised as a political, economic, and health priority for the region and the world,' stressed Azrul. 'As Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries strive to meet Sustainable Development Goal 3.4 (to reduce premature mortality from NCDs by one-third by 2030) the inclusion of breast cancer is not optional; it is essential.' ‒ July 17, 2025 Main image: Shutterstock/Jo Panuwat D
The Sun
20-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Systemic overhaul needed to reform healthcare
PETALING JAYA: With Malaysia's healthcare system under mounting strain, health experts and consumer advocates are calling on the government to deliver bold, systemic reforms – not just promises. They say only transformative change can address a system burdened by rising costs, limited access and uneven accountability. 'It can't be another symbolic gesture,' said Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy CEO Azrul Mohd Khalib. 'Superficial adjustments won't be enough, we need real reform to ensure every Malaysian has fair and affordable access to healthcare.' Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim recently announced that the government would form a high-level task force – comprising representatives from the Health Ministry, Finance Ministry and Bank Negara – to implement bold reforms to fix long-standing inefficiencies in Malaysia's healthcare system. Azrul stressed that entrenched problems, such as fragmented services, opaque pricing and under-regulated private sector players require sweeping and urgent measures. 'The committee should urgently tackle inefficiencies by enforcing price transparency in private hospitals, standardising medical fees and introducing value-based payment systems such as the Diagnosis-Related Group model.' He warned that disjointed data systems between the public and private sectors have led to duplicated services and unnecessary spending, and called for tighter digital integration and regulation of third-party administrators, insurers and private providers to eliminate hidden mark-ups. Azrul also urged a complete overhaul of healthcare financing, pointing out that Malaysia's health expenditure remains below global benchmarks. 'The task force should push for a national health and social insurance model with pooled contributions from employers and employees. 'This would reduce out-of-pocket spending, protect households from catastrophic bills and ensure cost-sharing across the system.' Azrul recommended setting clear key performance indicators requiring regular public updates and mandating independent audits. He also called for parliamentary oversight and the involvement of civil society to ensure transparency and policy continuity. He stressed that reaching underserved groups must be a key priority. 'Private hospitals receiving tax incentives should be required to provide affordable care quotas. We must also expand telemedicine, mobile services and subsidies for rural patients.' Azrul added that small but visible steps could quickly build public trust in the reform effort, such as mandatory itemised billing and a national online platform for patients to report billing complaints. Echoing his concerns, Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) president Dr Saravanan Thambirajah said Malaysians are facing a dual crisis: spiralling private healthcare costs and overwhelmed public facilities. 'One of the most pressing issues is rising private healthcare costs, where patients are billed without clarity and exposed to unchecked price hikes.' Saravanan noted that medical inflation in Malaysia is among the highest in the region, yet there is no legal mechanism to regulate it or even public data to justify the increases. 'Procedures, room charges, consultation fees and medications must be disclosed and regulated. Itemised bills should be mandatory.' He also called for a national database of verified healthcare pricing and tighter control over insurance premiums. 'Healthcare must be governed by strong public policy. Patients, not profits, must be at the centre.' He proposed the creation of a permanent Consumer Health Advisory Council and digital feedback mechanisms to ensure that reforms are informed by the public's live experiences. 'Fomca also backs the idea of a national health insurance scheme, provided it includes robust protections, such as subsidies for the B40 and M40 income groups and oversight by an independent, non-political body. 'The government must prioritise rural infrastructure, expand mobile clinics and offer incentives for healthcare workers. Healthcare is a public right. 'Without legislation and enforcement, aspirations won't translate into impact. 'It's time for the government to lead, not just manage,' he added.
New Straits Times
05-05-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
Think tank: Consultation fee cap, medicine pricing rule threaten private clinics' survival
A think tank wants the government to consider deregulating medical consultation fees, saying the issue of displaying medicine prices is linked to the sustainability of private clinics and primary healthcare. Galen Centre chief executive Azrul Mohd Khalib said general practitioners had only two income streams — consultation fees, which are capped, and the sale of medicines. "The price for consultations has been capped at RM35 for 33 years, so naturally, clinics have looked to the sale of medicines to make up for rising costs and inflation over those three decades," Azrul told the New Straits Times. He said with clinics now having to display their medicine prices, consumers would more likely ask for a prescription and purchase medicines at lower prices from pharmacies. Azrul said a patient had the right to ask for a prescription to buy medicines elsewhere. "The pharmacy chains can offer lower prices because they purchase in bulk, which clinics cannot do." He said that while clinics would have to comply with the price display rules, the net result was that people would be more likely to buy their medicines from pharmacies. "This would disincentivise clinics from also serving as dispensaries and focus purely on consultations, which will not be sustainable given the RM35 rate. Azrul said there would be clinics that decided to close shop or reduce operating hours to slash overhead costs. "There would be little incentive for clinics to open in areas with low population densities or operate 24 hours, because the profit margins would be very low. "Ultimately, this can affect primary healthcare, as it would see people going to government clinics or hospitals if no private clinics near their homes are open." He added that the situation may not be ideal for patients who want the convenience of getting their medicines from clinics, especially in more suburban or rural areas. "You could have a scenario where patients who go to a clinic late at night and are willing to buy medicines at the clinic but can't, because they have not been stocked, and the pharmacy only opens the following day." The best way forward, Azrul said, would be to deregulate consultation fees. He said the government could set a floor price and leave the rest to market forces. "This is the least antagonistic path. Clinics can reduce their overheads in terms of stocking medicines, charge more realistic consultation prices, and compete based on service. "At the same time, the transparency of medicine prices can still be retained while clinics remain sustainable, ensuring the continuity of primary healthcare." There are an estimated 12,000 private clinics nationwide. On Saturday, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr DzulkeflyAhmad gave an assurance that revised rules on medical consultation fees would be finalised within a month. He said a cabinet memorandum and supporting circular had been prepared, and would be tabled soon. "I am aiming to resolve this matter within a month at the latest," he added.
