PN pledges more allocations for public health, commission to tackle doctor woes

Perikatan Nasional (PN) says it will form a health services commission to tackle the problems faced by doctors and boost allocations for the health sector if it succeeds in forming the government after the Nov 19 polls. 

The commission is among the offers in its manifesto to address staffing issues and bullying cases, as well as tackle the lack of specialists doctors. 

The matter of permanent positions for government doctors previously culminated in a strike by contract medical officers  at a number of major hospitals in July last year.

The health sector was also shaken by the issue of trainee doctors being bullied, to the point where many decided to quit their jobs. 

The lack of specialist doctors meanwhile had been raised by medical associations in the country which said the situation would hurt the country.

In its manifesto, PN also vowed to raise health allocations in stages, from 5% of the GDP, to improve the quality of health services. 

A special tax exemption of RM3,000 for sports and recreational activities to encourage a healthy lifestyle was also included in the manifesto.

PN also said it would prepare a special fund to speed up maintainance works at hospitals and increase the number of specialists in addition to raising the level of district hospitals. 

The PN manifesto, themed “Malaysia Gemilang”, vows a caring, clean and stable government. 

It contains 12 core issues, with 30 approaches and 234 offers, of which 14 are related to the health sector.

Other issues include an efficient public transportation network, sufficient parking facilities at hospitals, and the expansion of community nursing services for paralysed patients and special needs children.