From 101 records relating to health kept in the National Archives of Malaysia for the period 1946–1981, 30 records were chosen using purposive criterion-based sampling on dimensions of universal health coverage (UHC) and health system governance. From those 30, document review was performed on 13 records that were selected based on relevance to analysis of the evolution of private and public health institutions and their roles in achieving UHC from 1946 to 1981. UHC relates to the ability of patients to access good quality service with high population coverage of health care at low financial risk. Malaya was a former Western Pacific nation ruled by the British colonial government. Initially, the government bore the cost of medicines and passages between the United Kingdom and Malaya for Red Cross and St. John’s ambulance teams to serve in rural areas in Malaya. This was later replaced by home grown Rural Health Teams trained in purpose built Rural Health Centres beginning with the first such training school in Jitra under the Rural Health Scheme. The Rural Health Scheme was implemented from 1953 to 1956 and marked an ambitious period of utilising limited resources to expand human resource and establish District Health Centres, Sub-District Health Centres, Midwives’ Houses and Maternal and Child Health Centres across the rural landscape of Malaya. After analysis, it was found that the British colonial government’s efforts in improving public health through the Rural Health Scheme had provided the foundation for achieving UHC in Malaysia today.

Background: The low detection rate of tuberculosis (TB) cases in Malaysia remains a challenge in the effort to end TB by 2030. The collaboration between private and public health care facilities is essential in addressing this issue. As of now, no private-public health care collaborative program in pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) screening exists in Malaysia. Aim: To determine the feasibility of a collaborative program between private general practitioners (GPs) and the public primary health clinics in PTB screening and to assess the yield of smearpositive PTB from this program. Methods: A prospective cohort study using convenient sampling was conducted involving GPs and public health clinics in the North-East District, Penang, from March 2018 to May 2019. In this study, GPs could direct all suspected PTB patients to perform a sputum acid fast bacilli (AFB) direct smear in any of the dedicated public primary health clinics. The satisfaction level of both the GPs and their patients were assessed using a self-administered client satisfaction questionnaire. IBM SPSS Statistical Software was used to analyze the data. Results: Out of a total of 31 patients who underwent the sputum investigation for PTB, one (3.2%) was diagnosed to have smear-positive PTB. Most of the patients (>90%) and GPs (66.7%) agreed to continue with this program in the future. Furthermore, most of the patients (>90%) were satisfied with the program structure. Conclusion: It is potentially feasible to involve GPs in combating TB. However, a more structured program addressing the identified issues is needed to make the collaborative program a success.
Food Insecurity ; Malaysia ; Adult ; Nutrition Survey