Kuala Lampur, April 13 -- The United States has hit pause - for now.

Instead of the full tariff hike, Malaysia faces a 10 per cent rate over the next 90 days.

On the surface, it sounds manageable. But we should not mistake this temporary relief for safety.

It's not a reprieve - it's a warning.

Malaysia relies heavily on imported medical equipment, diagnostics, and pharmaceuticals.

These are not luxuries, they are lifelines. And they're almost always priced in foreign currencies.

Even a modest tariff, when coupled with a weakening ringgit, inflates costs across the entire system.

Public hospitals may delay upgrades. Private hospitals will face rising expenses without relief from static insurance limits.

In the end, it's patients wh...