KUCHING: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has called for substantially higher funding for the Flying Doctor Service (FDS), saying the recent helicopter tragedy underscores the need to improve safety, maintenance and support for healthcare personnel serving remote communities.
In its Budget 2027 wish list released through a press statement on Friday (Sept 25), MMA said the fatal accident, which claimed five lives, highlighted the importance of strengthening the operational capacity of the service that delivers essential healthcare to hard-to-reach areas.
MMA urged the government to increase allocations for aircraft maintenance, equipment, operational requirements and overall sustainability of FDS.
It also called for a substantial revision of allowances for FDS personnel, noting that the allowance has remained unchanged since 1978 despite the demanding nature of the work.
Beyond emergency medical outreach, MMA said Budget 2027 must invest more heavily in primary care and disease prevention to reduce the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including diabetes and hypertension.
MMA stressed that government-funded health screening should not end with diagnosis alone, but must include treatment and long-term monitoring through Malaysia’s network of more than 11,000 private GP clinics.
It said private general practitioners could also support the National Immunisation Programme and conduct medical examinations for university students and civil servants, helping improve continuity of care while easing congestion in public facilities.
MMA further proposed establishing a Private Healthcare Development Division within the Ministry of Health to coordinate the private healthcare sector, which accounts for approximately 49 per cent of Malaysia’s total health expenditure.
The division would focus initially on integrating private primary care into national health programmes before expanding its role to hospitals, diagnostic services and other private healthcare providers.
To improve efficiency, MMA also recommended RM10 million to digitise the registration and licensing processes under CKAPS through a single online platform, enabling faster processing, greater transparency and stronger regulatory coordination across public and private healthcare.
MMA said strengthening healthcare delivery requires a whole-of-government approach involving the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, Public Service Department and Ministry of Higher Education, with clear responsibilities and timelines.
