KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Health (MoH) has assured that the process of registering and licensing private healthcare facilities will be further streamlined, particularly in Sarawak, to reduce costs and cut unnecessary bureaucracy.
Deputy Health Minister, Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni, said improvements have already been implemented under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 (Act 586), including reducing the approval time for private clinic registration.
“In 2023, the approval period for complete and compliant private clinic registration was shortened from six to eight months to just two to three months.
“Similarly, licence renewal approvals by the Private Medical Practice Control Section (CKAPS) were cut from six months to two to three months,” he told the Dewan Negara.
He was responding to a question from Senator Robert Lau Hui Yew on whether high compliance standards set by CKAPS have contributed to rising healthcare costs.
Lukanisman added that to accelerate the process, MoH had also introduced the MyGeo CKAPS application, an interactive map displaying private healthcare facility locations to ensure more efficient and transparent management.
“This initiative is expected to help reduce establishment and operating costs, especially in rural areas like Sarawak,” he said.
He further highlighted Sarawak’s strong commitment under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), noting that the state government has requested the devolution of powers related to CKAPS operations, with discussions ongoing.
In addition, Lukanisman stressed that MoH is continuously improving its systems and processes to address Sarawak’s unique needs and challenges more effectively.
“The federal and state governments will continue working closely to ensure the people of Sarawak enjoy accessible and quality healthcare services,” he affirmed.
