Minister of Health: Equipped to Face Global Challenges, Free Medical Services Available to All

(Bandar Seri Begawan, 6th) In order to provide internationally competitive, comprehensive, safe, and high-quality medical services, Brunei is not working alone.
“Brunei actively participates in international cooperation to ensure that our healthcare system continues to progress and is capable of responding to global challenges.”
This was the statement made by Minister of Health Dato Isham at the 21st National Legislative Council's second session of the year, held recently at the Parliament Building.
Speaking on the sustainability of medical services, the Minister shared the Ministry of Health's three main focal points: strengthening international cooperation and a sustainable healthcare financial system; updating medical service fee policies to protect affected groups; and reinforcing the national healthcare system through strategic approaches.
He noted that as a member of the World Health Organization (WHO), Brunei actively shares best practices and leverages the latest healthcare strategies and technologies. One of the main challenges is ensuring the financial sustainability of the healthcare system.
The Minister stated that the World Health Organization also emphasizes that financial sustainability is a core function of healthcare systems.
“Financial sustainability is not only crucial for maintaining service quality; it also concerns safeguarding people's economic security through optimal resource utilization, diversified sources of funding, and ensuring inclusive access,” he said.
Brunei has adopted this principle, implementing strategic financial management, prudent spending, and continuous policy adjustments, including annual budget planning. This approach enables the nation to continue offering free universal healthcare services without jeopardizing long-term financial sustainability.
Addressing one of the major challenges—the need for effective use of resources—the Minister noted that the country must ensure that financial resources are used effectively and efficiently to pay for healthcare costs, to continue investing in improvements, and to maintain long-term operations.
“High-end medical equipment such as MRI, CT Scan, radiotherapy, and nuclear medicine require significant and ongoing investment, including personnel training and technology upgrades.”
The Minister also pointed out that in other countries, healthcare funding generally comes from a mix of taxation, social insurance, private insurance, and out-of-pocket payments, whereas in Brunei it is almost entirely borne by the government, with only a small portion covered by private insurance.
Healthcare services in Brunei are free or highly subsidized, without imposing financial burdens on patients. This is different from the 'co-payment' or 'fee-for-service' systems adopted in most countries.
As healthcare is increasingly becoming a high-value commodity globally, many countries can no longer provide free or subsidized healthcare for citizens.
However, Brunei remains committed to providing free and easily accessible healthcare services to all its citizens.
To further strengthen the healthcare system for the long term, Brunei actively participates in WHO-led negotiations on the new pandemic accord as well as revisions to the International Health Regulations (IHR).
These agreements aim to enhance global capabilities in epidemic warning, early detection, information sharing, and rapid response.
When speaking about Brunei's role in ASEAN regional health cooperation, the Minister mentioned that Brunei is also active within the ASEAN framework.
“ASEAN has established various health security mechanisms to boost the resilience of regional health systems.”
One of the ongoing initiatives is the ASEAN Emergency Operations Centre Network (EOC Network), which can provide real-time information sharing during health emergencies.
He stated: “Brunei will serve as the Chair of ASEAN Health Cluster 3 from 2025 to 2027, and will play an important role in strengthening regional healthcare systems and expanding access to quality medical services.”
In addition, Brunei has led projects to procure smallpox vaccines and antiviral medicines through the ASEAN fund, distributing them to member states in need.
During the meeting, the Minister also mentioned financial challenges and announced: “The Ministry of Health will implement a new medical services fee policy starting July 1, 2025.”
He explained that under the new policy, some groups will need to pay for their own medical expenses.
However, to reflect compassion and social care, the government will exempt certain patient groups. For those economically affected, a special committee will conduct eligibility assessments.
The Minister emphasized that this update is not a discriminatory or punitive measure, but an important step to ensure the sustainability and resilience of the healthcare system.
He also urged the public to actively consider purchasing medical insurance to cope with potentially rising future healthcare costs.
“Providing high-quality medical services requires strategic planning, strong commitment, and collaboration across the entire healthcare ecosystem. The Ministry of Health will also strive to continuously strengthen the healthcare system through evidence-based approaches, infrastructure investment, and digital technology,” he stressed.
Additionally, the Ministry of Health will continue to monitor policy implementation to ensure that no one is excluded from quality and affordable healthcare services, and the concept of ‘common well-being’ will remain at the heart of all decisions.