Health and Social Protection: Continuing Universal Health Coverage

Key Takeaways

Data Overview

SUMMARY:

The Malaysian healthcare system has been able to provide health and financial protection for the population primarily through the public healthcare delivery sector, which is financed through general taxation and other forms of government revenue.

Through the highly-subsidised public healthcare sector, we have been able to provide universal health coverage for the population, producing significant improvements in health outcomes such as higher life expectancies and low child and maternal mortality rates. However, the chronic underinvestment in the public healthcare sector has left the overall healthcare system vulnerable and thus leaving the Malaysian population vulnerable.

To ensure continued health protection for the population, we propose three policy considerations for Malaysia’s healthcare system. First, to continue commitment to public financing of public healthcare which ensures the largest possible financial pooling mechanism that focuses on the entire population rather than groups of contributing individuals. Second, to focus on the implementation of comprehensive national electronic health records to facilitate person-centred continuity of care and promote preventive care services. Third, to apply a health in all policies approach to address social determinants of health, taking into consideration the health impact of all social policies.

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The Malaysian healthcare system has been able to provide health and financial protection for the population primarily through the public healthcare delivery sector, which is financed through general taxation and other forms of government revenue.

Through the highly-subsidised public healthcare sector, we have been able to provide universal health coverage for the population, producing significant improvements in health outcomes such as higher life expectancies and low child and maternal mortality rates. However, the chronic underinvestment in the public healthcare sector has left the overall healthcare system vulnerable and thus leaving the Malaysian population vulnerable.

To ensure continued health protection for the population, we propose three policy considerations for Malaysia’s healthcare system. First, to continue commitment to public financing of public healthcare which ensures the largest possible financial pooling mechanism that focuses on the entire population rather than groups of contributing individuals. Second, to focus on the implementation of comprehensive national electronic health records to facilitate person-centred continuity of care and promote preventive care services. Third, to apply a health in all policies approach to address social determinants of health, taking into consideration the health impact of all social policies.

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Conclusion