KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 – Putrajaya today proposed to increase healthcare spending to RM27 billion under Budget 2018.
When tabling Budget 2018 today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak highlighted that RM2.5 billion will be spent on medical supplies while RM1.6 billion will be set aside for consumable items and medical support equipment.
The announcement will go to assuaging public concerns about funding to public hospitals, allowing reports about the recycling of single-use items to trigger controversy.
During the announcement, Najib has also allocated RM1.4 billion for hospital maintenance and upgrade works for Muar Hospital, Banting Hospital and Balik Pulau Hospital.
The government will also be building new hospitals and wards, with RM1 billion being channelled to develop two blocks of women and children wards in Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan and Putrajaya Hospital with a 300 bed capacity each.
“Second will be the Cancer Centre in Sungai Petani costing RM500 million with 200-bed capacity. Third, a specialist clinics block and a new ward will be constructed in Penang Hospital which has a 300-bed capacity costing RM500 million.
“Finally we will develop an international class forensics medical facility in Kuala Lumpur Hospital costing RM380 million,” he said.
