Health Ministry: 76pc of psychiatric patients return to work after rehabilitation

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 — The Ministry of Health in Malaysia has reported significant success in mental health treatment, with 76 percent of psychiatric patients under its care successfully reintegrated into the workforce as of June, according to Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad. This accomplishment, achieved through the Community Mental Health Centre (Mentari) vocational support programme, has surpassed the ministry's Key Performance Indicator (KPI) target of 60 percent.

Dr Dzulkefly emphasized that mental health treatment in the country focuses on helping patients function independently, allowing them to live and work alongside their families. Through 39 Mentari centers across the nation, patients receive rehabilitation, psychosocial assistance, and support to return to employment and regain independence.

Speaking at a question-and-answer session in Dewan Rakyat, Dr Dzulkefly addressed concerns regarding treatment effectiveness indicators, the evaluation process, and the rate of patients returning for further treatment. The psychiatric patient hospital readmission rate within a three-month period was reported at 6.32 percent, well within the KPI target of keeping the rate below 25 percent.

When questioned about the potential use of cannabis extracts for mental health treatment, Dr Dzulkefly stated that while the Ministry of Health is open to medical clinical research provided it is backed by scientific evidence, the ministry strongly opposes any move to fully decriminalize the substance, citing Thailand's public health crisis as a cautionary example.