By Media Selangor Team
SHAH ALAM, Aug 7 — Efforts to train 50,000 skilled caregivers by 2030 under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) must be coordinated across ministries and backed by full enforcement of the Private Aged Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 2018 (Act 802), ministers and experts toldThe Star.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said discussions with related agencies and ministries are underway, but did not reveal further details.
“It is too early for us to reveal something that will fall under different ministries, although most of them (actions on caring for the ageing population) will fall under the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry (KPWKM),” she told the English daily.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said his ministry currently does not oversee caregiver training and will only begin regulatory oversight once Act 802 is fully enforced.
“The KPWKM is developing the Malaysian Care Industry Action Plan. The Health Ministry will only regulate private aged healthcare facilities once the Private Aged Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 2018 (Act 802) is enforced fully,” he said.
On July 31, when tabling the 13MP, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the number of trained caregivers will be increased from 43,000 in 2024 to 50,000 by 2030, in line with the country’s shift towards an ageing population.
This follows recent data released by the Statistics Department that estimates 15.3 per cent of Malaysians will be aged 60 and above by 2030.
Although Act 802 was passed in 2017 and gazetted in 2018, it has yet to be enforced, as accompanying regulations are still pending approval from the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
Once enforced, the Act will require private aged healthcare facilities to be licensed by the Health Ministry.
However, it does not currently cover caregiver training, which falls under other ministries such as Human Resources.
Universiti Malaya professor of geriatric medicine Dr Shahrul Bahyah Kamaruzzaman was quoted as saying that stronger political will and coordinated governance are essential to improving elder care.
“There are many existing policies and Acts which have been developed to address the issues facing the ageing population, but they require regulations and implementation.”
Dr Shahrul Bahyah, who also heads the Malaysian Healthy Ageing Society, called for a central coordinating body to lead cross-ministerial efforts.
“This is not just about ageing and elderly individuals. What we need most is a coordinating body that will be able to work across ministries,” she said.
She added that the Social Welfare Department is already overstretched, as it also oversees matters concerning women and children.
“Care for the elderly needs to be strategised across the life course and within an age-friendly framework, in line with policies under the World Health Organisation. There can be private and public cooperation for this to work.
“We are halfway there but we need one dedicated body — a ministry or an agency to oversee all matters related to the ageing population.”
