Healthcare is the prevention, treatment, and management of illness and the preservation of mental and physical well-being through the services offered by the medical and allied health professions. Malaysia has a very comprehensive range of health facilities. The Malaysian Government is very particular about its principle of a universal access to high quality healthcare through wide varieties of nationwide networks of clinics and hospitals.
The healthcare sector in Malaysia has witnessed tremendous changes over a period of time. The earliest pre-colonial medical cares were confined mostly on those traditional remedies that are evident today on local Chinese, Malays and some other ethnic group populations. But with the advent of colonial rule, more modern and westernized medical practices have been slowly introduced to the country.
Currently healthcare in Malaysia can be divided into two sectors-the public sectors and the private sectors. Doctors are usually required to render three years of serving public hospitals throughout the nation, making it a point to provide adequate coverage of the medical needs of the general population.
Malaysian public healthcare is heavily subsidized by the government. Currently, approximately 3% of the GDP is allocated for the healthcare sector.
The Malaysian healthcare industry, which includes product and equipment is currently valued at nearly US$1.3 billion and is expected to grow to nearly US$3 billion by 2007.
Healthcare is given due importance in Malaysia. With a rising and aging population, the Government wishes to improve the standards in existing hospitals, building and equipping new hospitals, expansion of polyclinics and improvement in training and telehealth. Malaysia still faces a shortage in the medical workforce, especially the highly trained specialist. Because of this medical care and treatment is available only in the bigger cities. Most of the private hospitals are in the urban areas.
|
Goals of Health Services
|
Description of Goals
|
|
Wellness Focus
|
Provide services that promote individual wellness throughout life.
|
|
Person Focus
|
Focus services on the person and ensure services are available when and where required.
|
|
Informed Person
|
Provide accurate and timely information and promote knowledge to enable a person to make informed health decisions.
|
|
Self Help
|
Empower and enable individuals and families to manage health through knowledge and skills transfer. .
|
|
Care Provided at Home
|
Provide services into rural and metropolitan homes, health settings and community centers.
|
Last Updated on: 18-11-2009
