PETALING JAYA: The education and health ministries will be among those which will receive the biggest allocations in Budget 2024, said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar made the announcement at the launch of the Madani medical scheme and the Madani Afiat programme in Ipoh this morning, Bernama reported.
The 2024 budget will be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat on Oct 13.
The education ministry received RM55.2 billion in the revised 2023 federal government budget which Anwar tabled on Feb 24.
Meanwhile, the health ministry was allocated RM36.3 billion, which included nearly RM3 billion for the appointment of over 1,500 permanent and contract health workers.
In the Bernama report, Anwar said among issues the government will focus on in the 2024 budget will be the construction of health clinics and addressing overcrowding at government hospitals nationwide.
“In the Madani Budget, we will continue to prioritise health and education issues. The main focus will be on healthcare facilities, including hospitals,” he said.
Review of hospital treatment charges
Anwar said a rationalisation of subsidies needs to be carried out to ensure government subsidies are utilised by those who need it the most, adding that this also applies to hospital treatment charges.
“It needs to be reviewed,” said Anwar.
“If we want to continue providing subsidies, we don’t need to subsidise the 10% (high-income group) in hospitals.
“The charges are low and some services are even free. At present, we provide this (subsidy) to everyone.
“Is it wrong for us to impose higher charges on the wealthy?”
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