Returning to lead the health portfolio, Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad has outlined his priorities, including electronic medical records (EMR), digitising healthcare, health financing reforms, and upgrading healthcare facilities.
During his first address at the ministry’s monthly assembly, Dr Dzulkefly highlighted the shortage of healthcare worker positions as a chronic and perennial issue that needs resolution. He also emphasized the need to address the state of healthcare facilities, the infrastructure, and the IT system.
One of Dr Dzulkefly’s top priorities is EMR, which he described as his “baby” that needs immediate attention, as well as the digitization of healthcare and health financing.
He expressed the ambition to have a seamless connection of all facilities, allowing for one patient, one record, and minimizing repeated questions for patients thanks to a National Electronic Medical Records system.
Dr Dzulkefly hopes to achieve this within the government’s remaining four years and emphasized the need for support from Health Ministry officials.
The implementation will be conducted in phases, but Dr Dzulkefly stressed that it should not take too long, estimating not more than 10 years.
Dr Dzulkefly also addressed health financing reform, emphasizing the importance of prudent spending and understanding the inefficiencies in current spending.
He highlighted the need to pool and prepay funds to finance healthcare strategically for both private and public healthcare, but acknowledged that it may be a complicated journey and would require buy-in from top management.
Dr Dzulkefly emphasized that piecemeal solutions are not the answer and without proper solutions, the ministry will remain trapped in the same cycle.
Additionally, the government has agreed to provide an additional RM30mil for the Madani Afiat initiative.
Dr Dzulkefly previously served as Health Minister in Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s Pakatan Harapan Cabinet from 2018 to 2020. In the unity government’s first cabinet reshuffle, he was named as Health Minister once again.
In the same reshuffle, Dr Zaliha was appointed as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories).
