The federal government is set to allocate an annual budget of RM4.9 billion to address the growing concern of diabetes within the country, said Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa.
This significant expenditure is deemed necessary as approximately 3.9 million adult citizens are currently affected by the chronic illness.
The National Health and Morbidity Survey 2019 revealed a worrisome trend, indicating a steady rise in the prevalence of diabetes among adults aged 18 and above.
The numbers increased from 11.2 percent in 2011 to 13.4 percent in 2015, reaching a concerning 18.3 percent by 2019.
