Ministry To Implement Health Transformation Plan - Minister

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 9 (Bernama) -- The Health Ministry will implement its Health Transformation Plan this year with the aim of providing the best health care for Malaysians. Health Minister Dr S.Subramaniam said the plan was among its efforts and commitment to ensure that the people received optimum health services. He said Malaysia has been internationally recognised at 18th place as an effective healthcare provider by Bloomberg in its August 2013 report. "There are four core aspects to the Malaysian Health Transformation Plan. First, to strengthen basic health care and promote a healthy lifestyle. "Second, to improve the services and management system; third, to develop a human resource master plan to enhance the skills of doctors and ensure there are enough doctors nationwide," he told a press conference here Wednesday. The fourth aspect involves implementing an infrastructure master plan for facilities in hospitals including adding 15,000 beds in government and private hospitals nationwide, he said. Also present was Deputy Health Minister Dr Hilmi Yahaya. "At present there are 50,000 beds in both government and private hospitals and it's inadequate to accommodate the expected increase in patients," he said. Subramaniam said to date the ministry handled 1,831 community clinics, 178 1Malaysia clinics, 919 health clinics, 106 mother and child clinics and 140 hospitals nationwide. On a separate note, he said following the high incidence of dengue last year, the ministry would continue its prevention and awareness campaign on the dangers of the fever and distribute larvicides (Abate), particularly in Selangor and the Federal Territory which recorded the highest number of cases. -- BERNAMA