Date : 9 September 2024, Monday

MDIA participated in the Ministry of Health (MOH) Budget Dialogue.

Today, for the first time, MDIA had the honor of participating in the Ministry of Health (MOH) Budget Dialogue. This significant event, led by YB Datuk Seri Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad, Minister of Health, together with YB Dato' Lukanisman Awang Sauni, Deputy Minister of Health, Dato' Sri Suraini Ahmad, Ketua Setiausaha, Datuk Dr. Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan, Director-General of Health, and Dato' Sri Norazman Ayob, Deputy Secretary-General (Finance), provided a platform to address the future of Malaysia’s healthcare system.

In his keynote, the Minister emphasized several key areas, including:

• Creative Financing to be more resourceful, such as leasing equipment and outsourcing services.

• Preventive Healthcare to promote healthcare; emphasis of values and outcome-based treatments.

• Digital Health to enable comprehensive data collection for a more integrated healthcare system.

Earlier, MDIA had submitted a comprehensive proposal during the Pre-Budget meeting with the Medical Device Authority (MDA) and several medical device associations. Our proposal, included in the letter to the Ministry of Finance, advocates for a Digital Transformation Grant to encourage the adoption of digital tools, particularly intraoral scanners, among dental professionals. This initiative aims to enhance treatment effectiveness, reduce patient queues, shorten treatment times cost in the longer term, and support the government’s goal of elevating oral healthcare standards. It also contributes to environmental sustainability by reducing resource usage.

During the dialogue, each participating organization had a brief two-minute window to present their proposals. The Malaysia Dental Association (MDA) highlighted the need to integrate private dental clinics into the government’s healthcare ecosystem. Minister acknowledged the important of dental care during his closing remarks.

Among the key themes raised during the dialogue were the integration of public and private patient data for better healthcare outcomes, the inclusion of NGOs and associations in the national healthcare ecosystem, and support for medical industry growth, including the promotion of "buy local" initiatives.

MDIA believes that more engagement between dental associations and government agencies will bring greater collaboration that lead to more impactful proposals in the future.

This is a positive step forward for the dental industry, and MDIA remains committed to ensuring that dental care receives the recognition and support it deserves within the broader healthcare landscape.