Fund our healthcare bodies before standards slip, private hospitals tell govt

KUALA LUMPUR: The Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM) has urged the government to urgently review and increase funding for three critical healthcare bodies, warning that sustained underinvestment could weaken oversight and standards.

APHM president Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh said the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC), Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) and Malaysian Society for Quality in Health (MSQH) formed the backbone of the country's healthcare ecosystem but faced funding pressures.

MMC regulates medical practitioners and upholds professional standards, MHTC drives medical tourism, while MSQH oversees hospital accreditation, quality improvement and patient safety across public and private facilities.

APHM said MMC and MHTC funding had not been sufficiently increased, while MSQH continued to operate without direct government funding.

"Without sufficient support, the ability to maintain rigorous standards, enforce governance, and continuously improve care delivery will be significantly constrained," it said in a statement.

The association said the growing medical tourism sector, a consistent contributor to national revenue, strengthened the case for reinvesting in regulation, accreditation and quality assurance to ensure sustainable growth.

APHM said it was ready to work with the Health Ministry and relevant stakeholders to ensure the three institutions received adequate support, adding that strengthening them would reinforce Malaysia's standing as a trusted healthcare system.