IPOH: The healthcare sector will remain a key focus for the country in the upcoming 2024 Budget, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
He said dubbed the Madani Budget 2, it would ensure continued efforts to strengthen the national healthcare system.
"In the Madani Budget last year, the Health and Education Ministries received the highest allocation.
"We must guarantee the quality of good education in our country. For instance, all school toilets in the country will be completely fixed by the end of this month.
"In Kelantan, a total of nine clinics have been completed and several others are still being built. So for the Madani Budget 2, the health sector especially clinics and hospitals continue to be our priority," he said.
The prime minister said this in a speech at the launch of the national-level Madani Medical Scheme and Madani Afiat Programme at Bulatan Sultan Azlan Shah in Meru here, today.
Also present were Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa, Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar and Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad.
The Tambun member of parliament said that when he visited the Sultanah Aminah Hospital in Johor, it was too crowded and similar situation could be seen at all hospitals in the country.
"So people started to criticise me (saying that) since Anwar became the Prime Minister, hospitals have become crowded.
"This problem has been ongoing for years. Due to inadequate allocation and no fast action, the problems worsen.
"And I have to make sure (this issue will be settled). During a discussion with the cabinet and Finance Ministry officers, we will focus on the healthcare sector," he said.
On today's programme, Anwar said the allocation for the Health Ministry would not be announced today but on the budget day itself, which falls on Oct 13.
In 2023 Budget, the Education Ministry received the biggest allocation, with RM55.2 billion being set aside this year compared to the RM52.6 billion in 2022.
This was followed by the Health Ministry, which received RM36.3 billion allocation this year compared to RM32.4 billion in the 2022 Budget.