Page 5 - National Health and Morbidity Survey 2019 Technical Report - Volume II : Healthcare Demand

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Message from the
Director General of Health Malaysia

Malaysia has been acknowledged globally for its high reported borrowing money from family and friends when
performing health system based on its well-trained workforce, paying out-of-pocket for healthcare services. This may risk
excellent infrastructure, and quality health service. We have them to catastrophic spending, which could lead to worsening
achieved remarkable progress in improving health outcomes individual economic status. The nation must, therefore, look
since independence with low-cost healthcare system funded on to improve the current health financing system and offer
through public revenue. Our country has been recognised by financial protection for the population, particularly in the
the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the nations vulnerable groups to sustain and strengthen UHC.
that has achieved Universal Health Coverage (UHC) with the
availability and wide access to health services ranging from Over-crowding of public facilities and long waiting-time
health promotion, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and have been chronic issues of the public sector and demands a
palliative care. However, the challenge now is to build onto the pragmatic approach. In this HCD 2019 study, we discovered
previous success and reinforce our healthcare services to cope less than 2% of the Malaysian population received healthcare
with the challenge of shifting demographics particularly in the services at home, despite a quarter of the population perceived
elderly population and the rise of non-communicable diseases. they needed the services. With the advancement in health
technology and demand for convenience by the consumer
In the Ministry of Health’s continuous effort to sustain and coupled with over-crowding and long-waiting time issues,
strengthen healthcare delivery, the Healthcare Demand there is a serious need for a shift in the delivery of healthcare
(HCD) module of the National Health and Morbidity Survey services from healthcare facilities back to the community
(NHMS) was introduced to determine the population’s pattern and home.
of healthcare services utilisation, health-seeking behaviour
and estimate the total household out-of-pocket expenditure Overall, this HCD module provides important evidence and
for health and its distribution. Previously, the core scopes invaluable inputs to support the Ministry of Health in evaluating
considered in the healthcare utilisation were outpatient, the impact of strategies for healthcare service, reviewing the
inpatient and oral healthcare utilisation. This latest HCD priorities and activities of the health programme, as well as
module in NHMS 2019 will feature other aspects such as the planning for future allocation of resources.
utilisation of community pharmacy and domiciliary care as well
as the provision of informal care and family doctor concept. My commendation to the survey team from the Institute for
Additionally, perceived general health and reported chronic Public Health, Institute for Health Systems Research, and
pain were reintroduced to provide a more comprehensive Institute for Health Behavioural Research for the successful
picture of healthcare demand in the country. completion of this important study. I also wish to thank all
the agencies involved for their support and cooperation
The public sector has successfully provided universal and throughout the process. Last but not least, thank you to all
comprehensive healthcare services for Malaysians at a nominal the respondents who had taken the time to participate in
fee. It remains to be the principal custodian of healthcare this survey.
services for the country. However, one in ten of the population

Tan Sri Dato' Seri Dr. Noor Hisham bin Abdullah
Director General of Health Malaysia
Chairman of NHMS Steering Committee
Ministry of Health Malaysia

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