KUCHING: The Malaysian Health Coalition is putting its hope on newly-appointed Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba and his two deputy ministers, Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali and Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang, to give their best in leading the country amidst the current Covid-19 pandemic.
In congratulating the three on their appointments, the coalition – representing 23 professional societies, six civil societies and 11 individuals – said it hoped that the minister and deputy ministers could ensure seamless crisis response and routine healthcare delivery, as well as lay the foundation for future health reforms in the country.
“In the short term, we need to overcome Covid-19 with a strong, sensible, sustainable and equitable response.
“The current outbreak is the ultimate test of our health system and our society and demands our highest attention,” it said in a statement on Saturday.
The coalition urged the Health Ministry to lead an all-of-society response that included stakeholders far beyond the Health Ministry and the government, along with the need to adequately protect the frontline health professionals – both physically and emotionally.
“In the long term, we must find durable solutions to our health challenges. Long queues, increasing cost, unequal healthcare access and increasing NCDs (non-communicable diseases) in an ageing population must be addressed through reforms in the way we finance healthcare, organise public hospitals and primary care, and treat medical and allied health professionals.”
According to the coalition, reforms would need a long-term inter-ministry effort to achieve high-quality, affordable and accessible health.
It thus hoped that the Health Ministry would advocate for health to be higher on the national agenda.
This, it pointed out, would require difficult decisions in issues such as healthcare for the poor or the marginalised, children’s rights, teenage pregnancies, vaccinations, mental health, tobacco policies, certain healthcare services for non-citizens, the environment and the annual haze, as well as road safety.
“We will stand firmly behind decisions based on evidence, ethics and equity. We look forward to a mutually supportive partnership to improve the people’s health,” it added.
The coalition observed that there was significant collective expertise, knowledge and wisdom among Malaysia’s health professionals.
As such, it hoped that the ministry would involve various professionals as equal partners.
“The health and well-being of the people is our shared priority. In our journey towards ‘Health for All’, we embrace evidence-based decision-making, multi-disciplinary teamwork, and the human right to health.
“We hope that these principles would guide our partnership as we serve our nation together.”
