KUALA LUMPUR (July 31): Malaysia will allocate RM40 billion to its healthcare sector over the 2026-2030 period under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), focusing on expanding access to medical services, upgrading public health facilities and driving digital transformation.

The 13MP sets a long-term goal of improving national health indicators, reducing Malaysians' healthcare spending to 32% of household spending by 2030, from 35% currently.

It also aims for 60% of citizens to have digital health records by the end of the plan period, to enable interoperability across public health facilities.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, when tabling the plan in Parliament on Thursday, said the government will also expand health-related taxes beyond sugary products to cover tobacco, vape and alcohol, as part of measures to promote behavioural change and combat rising non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

“Our public healthcare system is increasingly strained by medical inflation, rising NCDs, infectious diseases, and the pressures of an ageing population,” he said.

Further, the government will also strengthen its Skim Perubatan Madani programme, which allows registered low-income groups to access free outpatient healthcare in participating private clinics. 

Under the 13MP, there will be five main hospital and specialist facility projects slated for upgrade, including Hospital Tuanku Ja’afar 2, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan; Hospital Sultanah Aminah 2, Johor Bahru, Johor; and Northern Region Cancer Centre, Sungai Petani, Kedah. 

Anwar also highlighted plans to develop a national healthcare workforce framework to address shortages of medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, and specialists.

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