Health database needed for more effective care, says ministry official
PETALING JAYA : The government's plan to develop a centralised health data-sharing platform is a critical step in transforming the country's healthcare system, a senior health ministry official said today.
Dr Izzuna Mudla Ghazali, who heads the Malaysian Health Technology Assessment Section, said the initiative was not just about digitising records but enabling more consistent, accessible and effective decision-making across public and private sectors.
'The platform isn't just a technical upgrade. It's about laying the foundation for more effective and affordable care,' she said during a panel session at a conference on value-based healthcare today.
Currently being developed by the health ministry, the platform will allow authorised healthcare providers to share and access patient information in real time.
Health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad previously said the system would improve service delivery, reduce duplication and better track health outcomes of patients.
Izzuna urged policymakers and stakeholders to adopt a long-term perspective in evaluating health investments, warning against using cost alone as the basis for adopting new medical technologies or treatments.
'While keeping costs low is important, cheaper solutions aren't always better,' Izzuna, who is also the deputy director of the health ministry's medical development division, said.
'Some of the most effective treatments, especially for cancer or complex conditions, may be expensive upfront and take years before their full benefits are seen.
'We must weigh both effectiveness and affordability, not just the immediate cost. That's how we build a stronger, more sustainable healthcare system.'
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