KUALA LUMPUR: A blueprint to reform the Malaysian healthcare system and a new infectious disease institute are some of the measures under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) as the country emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic.

       The plan has several policies targeting specific health needs, such as oral healthcare, mental health, and immunisation, while food safety policies will be reviewed to protect the public against health hazards and fraud in the food supply chain including the preparation, sale and use of food.

       Five other measures are combating communicable diseases, combating non-communicable diseases, strengthening healthcare programmes for older persons, increasing preparedness in handling health crises, and ensuring the quality and accessibility of healthcare services.

       According to the 12MP, to strengthen the health financing and public awareness strategy, financial sustainability for healthcare will be ensured, health protection will be strengthened and health literacy, as well as awareness, will all be enhanced.

       “Social media platforms will be leveraged to invigorate health literacy and counter misleading information that exacerbates health issues,” it said.

       The third strategy is to enhance healthcare service delivery by leveraging technology, including digitalising healthcare services and improving research, development and innovation capacity. — Bernama