KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 7): Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz has refuted allegations that the government has drastically reduced its public health allocation in Budget 2021.

In a Facebook posting, Tengku Zafrul said the allocation under Budget 2021 for the Ministry of Health is RM31.9 billion, higher than RM30.6 billion in 2020.

He said the allocation for medical supplies and consumables amounting to RM4.29 billion has been allocated and classified under code 080000 (Specific Programmes).

“These include Government Supply of Public Medical Facilities of RM2.89 billion and Medicinal & Laboratory supplies of RM1.4 billion.

“This is why the total allocation under code 020000 (Medical) shows a ‘reduction’ from RM14.2 billion (2020) to RM11.3 billion (2021).

“These details contain provisions for various areas of healthcare including nephrology and pharmacy. No area of healthcare has had its allocation reduced,” he said.

Tengku Zafrul added that the government has also allocated RM24 million to address mental health issues through the enhancement of the Mental Health Program, Prevention of Physical Abuse and Substance Abuse.

He said that furthermore, the government has also provided RM420 million to enhance its Supplementary Meal Plan, whereby students from low-income families get a daily supply of milk for every school day.

“We want our children to grow up healthy physically and mentally,” he said.

Tengku Zafrul said that additionally, the government has allocated an additional RM475 million for the supply of reagents and consumables needed in relation to Covid-19; RM318 million for the provision of personal protective equipment and hand sanitisers for frontline staff; RM150 million to the National Disaster Management Agency to coordinate efforts to combat Covid-19; RM50 million for procurement of equipment, laboratory test supplies and medicines at the Teaching University Hospitals as well as additional equipment for running dental facilities, virtual clinic services, health screening zone facilities and thermometers at health facilities to fulfil the new normal's standard operating procedures.

He said the additional provision above is not included in the operating expenditure allocation contained in the Buku Anggaran Hasil & Perbelanjaan Persekutuan 2021 (Federal Projected Income and Expenditure) as it is allocated separately under the Covid-19 Fund.

“All the above allocations are over and above the government’s RM1.8 billion allocation this year for the implementation of MCO and public health needs related to Covid-19, including the purchase of personal [protective] equipment or PPE, reagents and consumables.

“I would like to reiterate that the government will not compromise in its efforts to safeguard the lives and health of Malaysians,” he said.

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