Malaysia: The Family Planning Program, 1967

Abstract

Malaysias national family planning program is actively moving with hundreds of thousands of pills distributed in late 1967. It has 7 objectives all established by law in June 1966: 1) formulation of policies and methods for the promotion and spread of family planning; 2) programming directing administering and coordinating of the family planning activities in the country; 3) responsibility for training of all personnel; 4) responsibility for the conducting of research on medical and biological methods; 5) promotion of studies and research; 6) setting up a system of evaluation; 7) employing such officers and assistants as may be necessary. On June 1 1966 a carefully written Family Planning Act became national law. Malaysias plans for its national family planning program call for 4 developments: 1) developing a 4-phased service program over 3 years: Phase 1 in the 7 largest cities; Phase 2 in the smaller cities with 50 district hospitals; Phase 3 in the 174 health centers and subcenters in rural areas; Phase 4 in the rural areas not covered by health services (population of about 3.5 million); 2) making family planning part of a health package which includes private commercial public and voluntary means of distribution of family planning services supplies and information; 3) training workers and staff; and 4) emphasizing continuing use as well as new acceptors.