{
  "id": 13607115,
  "title": "Budget 2027: Health Ministry to expand outsourcing programme to cut waiting times",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/budget-2027-health-ministry-to-expand-outsourcing-programme-to-cut",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-11T01:47:26.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/10/11/budget-2027-health-ministry-to-expand-outsourcing-programme-to-cut-waiting-times/238634"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On October 11, the Health Ministry (MOH) announced plans to expand the Hospital Services Outsourcing Programme (HSOP) to new areas as part of the RM200 million budget allocation for 2027, which was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the Dewan Rakyat. Deputy Health Director-General (Medical) Datuk Dr Mohd Azman Yacob stated that the increased allocation would allow the ministry to refer more patients to private hospitals for quicker treatment. The expansion comes after HSOP proved effective in reducing waiting times in government hospitals, particularly for CT and MRI scans, which previously took between three to six months.\n\nHSOP, introduced in 2024, currently benefits patients in nephrology, cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, paediatric cardiology, and radiology. The program enables patients to receive treatment more swiftly at private hospitals, with charges remaining subject to government hospital rates. The government covers the remaining cost through HSOP. Dr Mohd Azman added that patients are selected based on assessments by specialists at government hospitals, specifically for urgent treatment and diagnostic procedures.",
  "summary": "IPOH, Oct 11 — The Health Ministry (MOH) will expand the scope of the Hospital Services Outsourcing Programme (HSO...",
  "key_points": [
    "Health Ministry plans to expand Hospital Services Outsourcing Programme (HSOP) in 2027.",
    "RM200 million budget allocated for HSOP expansion, announced by PM Anwar Ibrahim.",
    "HSOP reduces waiting times for CT, MRI scans, and other urgent treatments."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The Health Ministry's expansion of the Hospital Services Outsourcing Programme means more patients will have faster access to treatment at private hospitals, reducing waiting times for certain medical procedures.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Budget 2027: Health Ministry to expand outsourcing programme to cut waiting times",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/budget-2027-health-ministry-to-expand-outsourcing-programme-to-cut-13611637",
        "published": "2026-10-11T01:47:26.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}