Budget 2026 Gives New Impetus To National Healthcare System – Dzulkefly

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 10 (Bernama) -- Budget 2026 is a major boost to the country’s healthcare system, particularly in terms of development, human resources and service reform, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.

The budget allocates RM46.5 billion to the Health Ministry (MOH), making it one of the largest allocations in the ministry’s history.

“We thank Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also Finance Minister, and Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, for providing one of the biggest allocations of RM46.5 billion,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby after the tabling of Budget 2026 in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Dzulkefly said that in this year’s budget, human resources were also given attention, with the absorption of 4,500 contract doctors by 2026 and an average 40 per cent increase in on-call allowances for doctors — the first rise in the On-Call Duty Allowance (ETAP) in almost 14 years.

“What’s crucial is the human resource aspect... the approach taken by the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister II injects new spirit into the staff, especially doctors who have long not seen an increase in ETAP — and now, they are given one,” he said.

The Health Minister also announced that revenue from sin taxes on cigarettes, alcohol and tobacco products, as outlined in the Budget, will be channelled specifically to address lung and liver-related diseases — a move he said is unprecedented.

He added that the new “Rakan KKM” initiative, which offers more personalised and specialist health services, is expected to receive its first patients this December.

“The Prime Minister asked when we will see the first patients under Rakan KKM — and I told him, Insya-Allah, this December,” he said.

Earlier, when tabling Budget 2026, Anwar announced an allocation of RM46.5 billion for the Health Ministry, up from RM45.3 billion this year, to ensure quality, equitable and affordable healthcare services.

He also announced that excise duties on tobacco and alcoholic beverages will be increased starting Nov 1, with the additional revenue channelled to the Health Ministry.

Budget 2026, themed ““Fourth MADANI Budget: A Budget for the People,”  allocates RM470 billion in public expenditure compared to RM452 billion last year, comprising RM338.2 billion for operating expenditure and RM81 billion for development, in addition to investments from government-linked investment companies (RM30 billion), public-private partnerships (RM10 billion) and Federal Statutory Bodies and Minister of Finance Incorporated companies (RM10.8 billion).

-- BERNAMA