Health systems in South-East Asia vary considerably as countries are at different stages of development and have different political systems, but all are engaged in reforming the ways in which their health system is financed and organized (Phua, 2002; Chongsuivavatwong et al, 2011.)
Public sector health services in Malaysia are centrally administered by the Ministry of Health through its central, state and district offices.
“Other government departments also provide health services to specific populations. The Ministry of Higher Education runs the university teaching hospitals, the Ministry of Defence has several military hospitals and medical centres and the Department of Aboriginal (Orang Asli) Affairs provides health services to the indigenous population in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. The Department of Social Welfare provides nursing homes for the elderly, the Ministry of Home Affairs manages the drug rehabilitation centres and the Ministry of Housing and Local Government provides environmental health services and limited health services, such as in the Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory.
Malaysia has an active civil society with many nongovernment organizations. For example, the Red Crescent Society and St. John’s Ambulance provide mainly emergency ambulatory and relief services; the Lion’s Club contributes to rehabilitative services; and the Family Planning Association provides reproductive health services. Other nongovernment organizations cater to people with special needs, such as Down’s syndrome, cancer, autism, thalassaemia and intellectual disabilities among others. Nongovernment organizations also provide cancer and hospice care and run community-based psychosocial and rehabilitation centres, as well as halfway homes.
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