(Bandar Seri Begawan, 17th) Brunei's Minister of Health, Dato Isham, stated in his speech at the National Assembly that, following His Majesty the Sultan’s special address delivered during this year’s Ramadan, the importance of the people’s health has been emphasized. Efforts to safeguard the national healthcare system are not only a trust bestowed by the people, but also a fundamental need to ensure continuous improvement of public services and secure the welfare of the population. At the same time, these efforts align with the vision of Brunei Vision 2035.
He stated that the theme for the Ministry of Health for the fiscal year 2026/2027 is “A Sustainable Healthcare System.” The core lies in the prudent use of public resources, setting clear priorities, strengthening domestic capabilities, reducing waste, while ensuring the people continue to have access to high-quality, safe, and convenient treatment.
“In the 2026/2027 fiscal year, the allocation for the Ministry of Health is BND 646,014,050.”
He stated that, as with healthcare systems elsewhere in the world, cost pressures for the health department will continue to grow, requiring even more careful, prudent, and forward-looking management. Costs for medicines, consumables, technology, and medical equipment continue to rise and change in tandem with current developments.
“The need for facilities maintenance is continuously increasing. At the same time, with an ageing population and a rise in non-communicable diseases, the treatments required by people are also becoming more complex and require specialized expertise.”
He stated that Brunei’s healthcare spending accounts for only 0.2% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), far lower than neighboring countries’ levels of around 4% to 0.4%. In this circumstance, prudent financial management, clear priorities, and optimized use of resources are crucial to ensure the continued effective operation of the country’s health system. Safe, high-quality, and efficient services mean that efficiency and excellence can progress hand in hand.
He stated that strategic investment in public health, even with a lower spending ratio, can still achieve significant outcomes that benefit the people’s wellbeing. This has been proven: life expectancy increased from 77.7 years in 2019 to 79.1 years in 2024, which is in line with the national direction in Brunei Vision 2035—to achieve an average life expectancy of 82 years.
He stated that the Ministry of Health will continue to shoulder the responsibility to ensure the people and residents of our country can enjoy comprehensive healthcare services. This includes primary healthcare, specialist treatments, emergency services, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, laboratory services, infectious disease control, non-communicable disease management, mental health support, tertiary care, and readiness measures for emergencies including disease outbreaks.
“Overseas medical care is one of the most pressured items in the Ministry of Health's budget. For the 2026/2027 fiscal year, a total allocation of BND 159,500,000 has been requested to cover the treatment costs for referrals abroad as well as to specific institutions (such as the JPMC Specialist Centre and GJPMC Cardiac Centre). This allocation reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring the public can continue to access necessary treatments, including specialized care that is still not fully available locally. At the same time, the cost of specialist treatment and certain medicines remains high, partly due to the limited number of suppliers for certain types of consumables and treatments.
”In this regard, in addition to exploring memorandums of understanding with neighboring countries, we are also holding consultations with the Ministry of Finance and Economy, Ministry of Health, and Universiti Brunei Darussalam. This is crucial to alleviate cost pressures and thus reduce the burden on the public. As a reminder, we must continue to strengthen our tertiary medical capabilities. Every specialty area successfully developed domestically will help reduce dependence on overseas referrals, directly enhancing the capability of our healthcare system so more treatments can be provided locally, reducing cost pressure and making it easier for patients and their families. To enhance fiscal sustainability, the Ministry of Health has also updated its medical service payment schemes to ensure the management of public subsidies better aligns with medical development and technological advances, while remaining fair, accurate, and optimal.
He also mentioned the healthcare workforce. Without a sufficient and well-trained healthcare workforce, there can be no strong healthcare system.
To date, there are 845 doctors under the Ministry of Health, 55% of whom are locals; 2,816 nurses, 94% of whom are locals; and there are 460 Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) distributed across various fields, who are also among the important pillars of the healthcare system—all of whom are locals. Currently, Brunei has about 1.9 doctors and 6.1 nurses per 1,000 people.
Compared to global averages (according to World Health Organization data), there are about one-tenth as many doctors and thirty-six to thirty-nine nurses per 1,000 people.
He stated that raising the ratio of medical staff remains a priority. The Ministry of Health is working with relevant ministries and agencies to promote and encourage healthcare professions among students. However, this work cannot focus solely on recruitment, but must also include professional skills development, continued training, capacity building, career development pathways, and optimal manpower deployment.
Meanwhile, job placement and filling of positions also face challenges.
He said the issue of specialist doctors must continue to be taken seriously, especially after some specialists have resigned. Although a recruitment committee has been established, given the increasingly fierce market competition, the number of applicants remains limited. This shows that strengthening the healthcare workforce remains a key challenge that requires ongoing action. In the longer term, investing in training and expertise is crucial to improving skills and reducing reliance on external resources. A total of 168 healthcare professionals (including doctors, allied health professionals, and nurses) have received funding under this scheme and attended various levels of domestic and overseas training from 2020 to 2025. Of these, 10 doctors have completed specialist advanced training in different specialties.
For the 2026/2027 fiscal year, a budget of BND 1.1 million has been approved for health sector human resource development.
Apart from human resources, the efficient use of resources will be further strengthened through strategic procurement as well as centralized purchasing of medicines, medical consumables, equipment, and specific devices.
He stated that more regulated procurement management will help control waste, reduce duplicate purchases, and improve supply planning, as every dollar spent must bring maximum value to the nation.
He also pointed out that it is not enough to focus only on treatment. Prevention must be prioritized, including immunization, health promotion, and early detection through disease screening. National screening programs are some of the most important future investments to reduce disease burden and treatment costs. The earlier a disease is detected, the sooner interventions can be implemented. This not only produces effective treatment results, but also avoids high costs arising from complications.
The Ministry of Health has allocated more than BND 4 million for health promotion and non-communicable disease prevention programs, of which 63% is for health promotion programs and 37% for the prevention of non-communicable diseases, including implementation of screening programs. Diabetic retinopathy screening is one such ongoing enhanced screening program. Since its introduction in 2024, a total of 25,999 people have been screened, among whom 2,731 cases required further referral. This means that roughly 1 in 10 people screened need treatment to save their vision and prevent blindness. This artificial intelligence (AI) technology helps to identify high-risk diabetes patients so they can receive timely intervention.
This screening program has not only increased the coverage rate of ophthalmic screening, but also helps to reduce the risk of preventable blindness among diabetic patients in the country. As of November 2025, a total of 10,750 women have undergone Human Papillomavirus (HPV) screening, with 7.9% found to be infected with high-risk HPV types. Overall, screening rates have significantly improved. In 2024 and 2025, the number of women screened increased by 56.8%. Meanwhile, for breast cancer screening, from November 2019 to November 2025, a total of 13,061 women received screening. The number of women screened increased by 75%, from 1,512 in 2022 to 2,640 in 2025.
In addition, from 2019 to 2025, a total of 2,801 people received cardiovascular risk screening. In terms of screening, the number increased by 85%, with 556 people screened in 2025 compared to 300 in 2022.
Meanwhile, from 2019 to 2025, a total of 1,480 people received screening. A total of 1,485 people were screened for colorectal cancer. This shows the number screened increased from 234 in 2022 to 513 in 2025, an increase of 119%.
He stated that the theme for the Ministry of Health for the fiscal year 2026/2027 is “A Sustainable Healthcare System.” The core lies in the prudent use of public resources, setting clear priorities, strengthening domestic capabilities, reducing waste, while ensuring the people continue to have access to high-quality, safe, and convenient treatment.
“In the 2026/2027 fiscal year, the allocation for the Ministry of Health is BND 646,014,050.”
He stated that, as with healthcare systems elsewhere in the world, cost pressures for the health department will continue to grow, requiring even more careful, prudent, and forward-looking management. Costs for medicines, consumables, technology, and medical equipment continue to rise and change in tandem with current developments.
“The need for facilities maintenance is continuously increasing. At the same time, with an ageing population and a rise in non-communicable diseases, the treatments required by people are also becoming more complex and require specialized expertise.”
He stated that Brunei’s healthcare spending accounts for only 0.2% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), far lower than neighboring countries’ levels of around 4% to 0.4%. In this circumstance, prudent financial management, clear priorities, and optimized use of resources are crucial to ensure the continued effective operation of the country’s health system. Safe, high-quality, and efficient services mean that efficiency and excellence can progress hand in hand.
He stated that strategic investment in public health, even with a lower spending ratio, can still achieve significant outcomes that benefit the people’s wellbeing. This has been proven: life expectancy increased from 77.7 years in 2019 to 79.1 years in 2024, which is in line with the national direction in Brunei Vision 2035—to achieve an average life expectancy of 82 years.
He stated that the Ministry of Health will continue to shoulder the responsibility to ensure the people and residents of our country can enjoy comprehensive healthcare services. This includes primary healthcare, specialist treatments, emergency services, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, laboratory services, infectious disease control, non-communicable disease management, mental health support, tertiary care, and readiness measures for emergencies including disease outbreaks.
“Overseas medical care is one of the most pressured items in the Ministry of Health's budget. For the 2026/2027 fiscal year, a total allocation of BND 159,500,000 has been requested to cover the treatment costs for referrals abroad as well as to specific institutions (such as the JPMC Specialist Centre and GJPMC Cardiac Centre). This allocation reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring the public can continue to access necessary treatments, including specialized care that is still not fully available locally. At the same time, the cost of specialist treatment and certain medicines remains high, partly due to the limited number of suppliers for certain types of consumables and treatments.
”In this regard, in addition to exploring memorandums of understanding with neighboring countries, we are also holding consultations with the Ministry of Finance and Economy, Ministry of Health, and Universiti Brunei Darussalam. This is crucial to alleviate cost pressures and thus reduce the burden on the public. As a reminder, we must continue to strengthen our tertiary medical capabilities. Every specialty area successfully developed domestically will help reduce dependence on overseas referrals, directly enhancing the capability of our healthcare system so more treatments can be provided locally, reducing cost pressure and making it easier for patients and their families. To enhance fiscal sustainability, the Ministry of Health has also updated its medical service payment schemes to ensure the management of public subsidies better aligns with medical development and technological advances, while remaining fair, accurate, and optimal.
He also mentioned the healthcare workforce. Without a sufficient and well-trained healthcare workforce, there can be no strong healthcare system.
To date, there are 845 doctors under the Ministry of Health, 55% of whom are locals; 2,816 nurses, 94% of whom are locals; and there are 460 Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) distributed across various fields, who are also among the important pillars of the healthcare system—all of whom are locals. Currently, Brunei has about 1.9 doctors and 6.1 nurses per 1,000 people.
Compared to global averages (according to World Health Organization data), there are about one-tenth as many doctors and thirty-six to thirty-nine nurses per 1,000 people.
He stated that raising the ratio of medical staff remains a priority. The Ministry of Health is working with relevant ministries and agencies to promote and encourage healthcare professions among students. However, this work cannot focus solely on recruitment, but must also include professional skills development, continued training, capacity building, career development pathways, and optimal manpower deployment.
Meanwhile, job placement and filling of positions also face challenges.
He said the issue of specialist doctors must continue to be taken seriously, especially after some specialists have resigned. Although a recruitment committee has been established, given the increasingly fierce market competition, the number of applicants remains limited. This shows that strengthening the healthcare workforce remains a key challenge that requires ongoing action. In the longer term, investing in training and expertise is crucial to improving skills and reducing reliance on external resources. A total of 168 healthcare professionals (including doctors, allied health professionals, and nurses) have received funding under this scheme and attended various levels of domestic and overseas training from 2020 to 2025. Of these, 10 doctors have completed specialist advanced training in different specialties.
For the 2026/2027 fiscal year, a budget of BND 1.1 million has been approved for health sector human resource development.
Apart from human resources, the efficient use of resources will be further strengthened through strategic procurement as well as centralized purchasing of medicines, medical consumables, equipment, and specific devices.
He stated that more regulated procurement management will help control waste, reduce duplicate purchases, and improve supply planning, as every dollar spent must bring maximum value to the nation.
He also pointed out that it is not enough to focus only on treatment. Prevention must be prioritized, including immunization, health promotion, and early detection through disease screening. National screening programs are some of the most important future investments to reduce disease burden and treatment costs. The earlier a disease is detected, the sooner interventions can be implemented. This not only produces effective treatment results, but also avoids high costs arising from complications.
The Ministry of Health has allocated more than BND 4 million for health promotion and non-communicable disease prevention programs, of which 63% is for health promotion programs and 37% for the prevention of non-communicable diseases, including implementation of screening programs. Diabetic retinopathy screening is one such ongoing enhanced screening program. Since its introduction in 2024, a total of 25,999 people have been screened, among whom 2,731 cases required further referral. This means that roughly 1 in 10 people screened need treatment to save their vision and prevent blindness. This artificial intelligence (AI) technology helps to identify high-risk diabetes patients so they can receive timely intervention.
This screening program has not only increased the coverage rate of ophthalmic screening, but also helps to reduce the risk of preventable blindness among diabetic patients in the country. As of November 2025, a total of 10,750 women have undergone Human Papillomavirus (HPV) screening, with 7.9% found to be infected with high-risk HPV types. Overall, screening rates have significantly improved. In 2024 and 2025, the number of women screened increased by 56.8%. Meanwhile, for breast cancer screening, from November 2019 to November 2025, a total of 13,061 women received screening. The number of women screened increased by 75%, from 1,512 in 2022 to 2,640 in 2025.
In addition, from 2019 to 2025, a total of 2,801 people received cardiovascular risk screening. In terms of screening, the number increased by 85%, with 556 people screened in 2025 compared to 300 in 2022.
Meanwhile, from 2019 to 2025, a total of 1,480 people received screening. A total of 1,485 people were screened for colorectal cancer. This shows the number screened increased from 234 in 2022 to 513 in 2025, an increase of 119%.