What we rarely do, however, is take stock of our social, political and moral progress and reflect on our collective choices. Malaysian public healthcare can be seen as such a commons. Many who could afford private treatment instead opt for public healthcare, either because they are “priced out” or because it costs “only RM1-RM5”. This can create a domino effect toward overuse and potential collapse of the public healthcare system. All these prompt a critical question: Can Malaysia’s universal healthcare system still maximise utility for all when the quality of care is compromised by structural and systemic challenges?

Source: The Edge Markets January 02, 2026 04:35 UTC