Malaysia’s private healthcare providers often face a difficult balancing act. While they need to maintain adequate inventories of medicines and medical supplies, many also contend with delayed insurance reimbursements, rising operational costs and limited access to business financing.
To help address these challenges, CrediBill, Malaysia’s B2B Buy Now Pay Later (“BNPL”) platform powered by CapBay, has entered into a strategic partnership with Pharmaniaga Berhad to provide greater payment flexibility for healthcare businesses across the country.
The collaboration will benefit more than 8,500 healthcare providers within Pharmaniaga’s network, including clinics, pharmacies and dental practices. Under the programme, eligible buyers can enjoy payment terms of up to 90 days at no additional cost when purchasing pharmaceutical and healthcare products. Businesses may also choose to extend their repayment period further through CrediBill’s BNPL platform at competitive rates.
The initiative aims to ease cash flow pressures faced by healthcare SMEs while improving access to essential medical supplies and inventory financing.
Supporting Malaysia’s Healthcare SME Ecosystem
As Malaysia’s largest integrated healthcare service provider, Pharmaniaga plays a critical role in the manufacturing, distribution and supply of medicines nationwide. The partnership forms part of the company’s broader efforts to strengthen the resilience of Malaysia’s healthcare supply chain by supporting the financial sustainability of healthcare providers.
The programme arrives at a particularly important time for the sector. According to the Malaysian Medical Association, more than 70% of Malaysia’s 10,000 private general practitioner clinics generate less than RM60,000 in monthly revenue. Many continue to face financial strain due to increasing operating expenses and the mismatch between upfront procurement costs and delayed payments from insurers.
By extending payment terms and improving access to working capital, the initiative seeks to help healthcare businesses maintain operations without compromising patient care.
Leveraging Alternative Data for Faster Financing
A key feature of the programme is CrediBill’s AI-driven credit scoring engine, which evaluates buyer creditworthiness using alternative supply chain data rather than relying solely on conventional lending criteria.
This approach enables faster digital onboarding, reduces paperwork and shortens approval times. In addition, users can manage their payables through a single platform while accessing financing facilities for essential business purchases.
The use of alternative data reflects a growing trend in fintech-driven SME financing, where technology helps bridge funding gaps for businesses that may not meet traditional banking requirements.
Expanding Financial Inclusion in Healthcare
Ang Xing Xian, Director of CrediBill and Group CEO of CapBay, said healthcare remains a key focus area for the company’s expansion strategy.
“Healthcare is a sector close to our hearts at CrediBill. The men and women running clinics, pharmacies and dental practices across Malaysia are doing important work, yet they have long been underserved by traditional financial institutions. Our journey in healthcare is just beginning — this partnership with Pharmaniaga is a meaningful step in our mission to build a more financially resilient healthcare ecosystem in Malaysia,” he said.
Meanwhile, Managing Director of Pharmaniaga, Dato’ Zulkifli Jafar said the company views the initiative as an extension of its role as a trusted healthcare partner.
“At Pharmaniaga, we have always seen ourselves as a trusted healthcare partner, committed to supporting the broader healthcare ecosystem beyond the supply of medicines. Healthcare providers play a vital role in delivering quality care to Malaysians, and through our partnership with CrediBill, we are pleased to offer greater financial flexibility to support their operations,” he said.
Strengthening Supply Chain Resilience
Beyond providing financing, the partnership highlights the growing role of fintech solutions in strengthening healthcare supply chains and supporting SME growth.
By combining Pharmaniaga’s extensive healthcare network with CrediBill’s financing capabilities and CapBay’s technology infrastructure, the programme aims to create a more sustainable ecosystem for healthcare businesses across Malaysia.
The collaboration also demonstrates how alternative financing models can help address long-standing funding challenges faced by SMEs in specialised sectors. As healthcare providers continue to navigate rising costs and increasing demand for services, access to flexible financing could become an increasingly important factor in maintaining business stability and operational efficiency.
For Malaysia’s healthcare SMEs, the partnership offers more than extended payment terms.
It provides a pathway towards improved cash flow management, stronger financial resilience and greater confidence in serving communities across the country.
