Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad has conceded that public healthcare in the country is both underfunded and understaffed.

While the allocation for his ministry increased by RM2 billion under Budget 2019 to RM29 billion, Dzulkefly said this was just 2.2 percent of Malaysia's gross domestic product.

This falls short of Malaysia's target to be a developed country which on average should spend 6 percent of its GDP on healthcare.

"Because of the (current economic) situation, we cannot match the rates of developed countries.

"As such, the allocation for the health sector is not sufficient," Dzulkefly said at a joint media interview in Putrajaya recently.