KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has taken steps to transform its health sector to better cater to the needs of the people, said Health director-general Datuk Seri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.
He said this was being carried out in three stages, namely strengthening public healthcare system, enhancing performance through information communication technology, as well as integrating healthcare provided by both public and private sectors.
The healthcare delivery system was being re-engineered, he said, adding that this would result in, among others, better services and shorter hospitalisation periods.
“We also need to work with the private sector and non-governmental organisations in terms of having (better) infrastructure and equipment to be able to serve more patients,” he said at the Breakfast Dialogue with Director-General of Health organised by the European Union-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry here yesterday.
Dr Noor Hisham noted that congestion, especially in local public hospitals was an increasing problem as people sought treatment at such facilities which rendered quality service at more affordable costs compared to private hospitals.
He said ensuring accessibility to healthcare for the ordinary folks was also an important area, given that more affluent families were turning to public hospitals. — Bernama