Amanda Siddharta
Research expert covering Malaysia
Health in Malaysia - statistics & facts
Malaysia has a universal healthcare system provided by the government, and it is considered one of the most efficient in public and private healthcare in Southeast Asia. The average life expectancy of Malaysians is the third highest in the region, after Singapore and Thailand. The government of Malaysia also allocated a larger share of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) each year to improve its public healthcare infrastructure. As of 2021, health expenditure reached around 4.38 percent of the GDP.
Malaysia also boasts world-class private hospitals that complement the public healthcare system. Nearly all of the country’s registered doctors and other healthcare practitioners speak English, one of the most common languages spoken in the country. As a result, the Southeast Asian country is a popular medical tourism destination, earning a revenue of approximately 1.7 billion Malaysian ringgit in 2023, which had reached the country’s pre-pandemic revenue from medical tourism.
Malaysia still has room to improve the accessibility and infrastructure of its healthcare system. Better healthcare services and more doctors or nurses can be found in larger cities, compared to the remote, more rural areas. There is also a gap in quality and services between public and private facilities. With a higher allocation of the government’s budget on healthcare services in 2024, Malaysia should be able to redirect its focus on improving the country’s healthcare system.
Health infrastructure in Malaysia
A higher budget for the healthcare system allowed the country to increase the bed capacity of both public and private hospitals in the country. This was especially important during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. Despite the pandemic putting a strain on Malaysia’s healthcare system, the government managed to accommodate those who were affected by the disease.Malaysia also boasts world-class private hospitals that complement the public healthcare system. Nearly all of the country’s registered doctors and other healthcare practitioners speak English, one of the most common languages spoken in the country. As a result, the Southeast Asian country is a popular medical tourism destination, earning a revenue of approximately 1.7 billion Malaysian ringgit in 2023, which had reached the country’s pre-pandemic revenue from medical tourism.
Burden of disease in Malaysia
Although Malaysia generally has an efficient healthcare system, there are still common diseases that occur in the country, especially diseases that are endemic to tropical and sub-tropical countries. Dengue fever, for example, is still commonly found in some areas of Malaysia. In 2022, there were more than 37,000 dengue fever cases in the state of Selangor, the highest among all the regions. Meanwhile, the number of malaria cases is the highest in the states of Sabah and Sarawak in East Malaysia.Malaysia still has room to improve the accessibility and infrastructure of its healthcare system. Better healthcare services and more doctors or nurses can be found in larger cities, compared to the remote, more rural areas. There is also a gap in quality and services between public and private facilities. With a higher allocation of the government’s budget on healthcare services in 2024, Malaysia should be able to redirect its focus on improving the country’s healthcare system.
