KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 13 public hospitals are still operating at only 60 to 70 per cent of their maximum capacity, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.

Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat, Dzulkefly did not elaborate on the hospitals involved.

"There are 13 public hospitals still operating at 60 to 70 per cent of their maximum capacity.

"That is why it is crucial for me to emphasise that one of my biggest challenges is addressing human resource issues, while also focusing on reforms in healthcare financing, both in the public and private sectors.

Featured Videos

"I am also driving the digitalisation of the healthcare sector. In fact, the most pressing challenge remains human resources, which I have highlighted on many platforms, including in Cabinet.

"I am fully aware of the situation, and we are adopting various approaches to address it," he said when winding up the debate on the 13th Malaysia Plan.

Dzulkefly was responding to Hassan Abdul Karim (PH–Pasir Gudang), who raised concerns over the shortage of healthcare personnel, particularly doctors and nurses, at the newly opened Pasir Gudang Hospital, which began operations on Aug 1.

The minister acknowledged that dealing with human resource constraints is the main challenge in carrying out his responsibilities at the Health Ministry.

He also admitted that the country's healthcare funding remains insufficient to meet the sector's needs.

"In the 2024 Budget, the increase allocated to me for 2025 was only RM4 billion, a rise of just 4 per cent. Development expenditure amounts to barely RM600 million.

"This shows the need for us to generate and diversify funding sources. Such a strategy is essential to ensure that the health sector is sustainable and capable of managing resources effectively.

"One of the key initiatives under this strategy is the establishment of a National Health Fund," he said.

The fund, he added, will be anchored by tax revenue, including health-related taxes on high-risk products such as tobacco, electronic cigarettes, vapes, alcohol and sugary drinks. The MHIT scheme is also part of this initiative.

Dzulkefly said efforts are also underway to strengthen the digital healthcare system under the Reset initiative, which aims to counter medical inflation.

He said a cloud-based Clinical Management System (CCMS) is being developed every 1.4 days.

"As of now, 255 CCMS clinics have been established in 2025, and the year is not yet over.

"We are also working towards the full digitalisation of health clinics. This will be followed by 15 hospitals this year, with another 16 hospitals adopting Electronic Medical Records (EMR) and Hospital Information Systems (HIS) in 2026. This digital shift is a crucial component of the Reset framework," he said.

Dzulkefly noted that the MHIT scheme plays a central role, providing affordable access to private healthcare and helping reduce congestion at public facilities.

This, he said, is further complemented by the Rakan KKM programme.

ENDS