Its CEO, Azrul Khalib, said the reduction would have direct consequences across hospital wards, operating theatres, emergency departments, clinics, pharmacies, laboratories, and on patients waiting for treatment.

“The cost of this cut will be paid in delayed procedures, longer waiting lists, medicine shortages, deteriorating facilities, exhausted healthcare workers, avoidable complications, and preventable deaths,” he said in a statement today.

Azrul said the public healthcare system was already operating under severe pressure, with hospitals and clinics only receiving the minimum resources needed to function safely and effectively.

He said more than 70% of Malaysians relied on the public healthcare system, adding that vulnerable groups, including low-income households, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses, would be hit the hardest by the proposed cut.

He urged Putrajaya to reconsider the proposal, stressing that healthcare spending should be viewed as a core public investment.

“The public healthcare system is one of the country’s most important social protections. The health ministry should not be treated as a convenient place to find savings.

“It protects lives, productivity, economic stability, and social trust. A country cannot build resilience by weakening its public healthcare system,” he said.

Earlier today, the finance ministry proposed RM5.4 billion in operational expenditure cuts for the health and higher education ministries as part of measures to save government funds amid the impact of the Iran war.

A directive issued by the Treasury said a total of RM10 billion could be saved across the board, including RM3.06 billion from the health ministry and RM2.39 billion from the higher education ministry.

The health ministry was allocated RM46.5 billion under this year’s budget.