Health minister touts AI health reforms as clinics cut wait times to under 30 minutes
In a post on Facebook yesterday, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad, said the achievement was part of the artificial intelligence (AI)-based digital reforms that his ministry is currently implementing.
He said that under the reform, phase 1 of the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system had also been completed involving five million prescriptions, 20 million vaccination records, and one million dental records.
He said MySejahtera has now developed into a preventive health gateway and a national digital gateway.
'We are also very pleased to announce that the Ministry of Health and Google are now exploring a strategic collaboration to use artificial intelligence to address the country's key health challenges.
'It is a major step towards making Malaysia the leader in AI-based digital health in the region,' he said.
He said as the 2025 Asean Chair, Malaysia is committed to driving regional cooperation in health data governance, ethical use of AI and cross-border digital capacity building.
Today, Dzulkefly officiated the Precision Public Health Asia 2025 Conference which brought together over 500 delegates from across the region, eight technology exhibitors, and regional health leaders who share the aspiration of building a data-driven, personalised and people-centric health system.
'Precision Public Health is no longer a concept of the future. It is being implemented in Malaysia. And it will be a pillar for a more sustainable, equitable and competitive health system,' he said. — Bernama
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Malay Mail
7 hours ago
- Malay Mail
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Why Malaysia needs to double its public sector healthcare spending Our post-Merdeka improvements in life expectancies at birth were internationally acclaimed, all the more remarkable given our very modest government healthcare expenditures (rarely exceeding 2 per cent GDP). The Rural Health Service's initiatives in village midwifery (bidan kampung), vaccine-preventable childhood ailments, tandas curah ('Jitra bowl'), the Applied Food and Nutrition Programme (AFNP), potable water supply, and control of communicable diseases were very well-chosen low-cost interventions which markedly reduced mortality among young children and mothers. 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This epidemiological-cum-demographic transition requires multi-sectoral promotive as well as comprehensive primary health care, and the commensurate financial, staffing, and material resources to deliver it. We should not be captive to historical health budgeting practices whose modest annual increments are no longer adequate for the scale of effort that is now required—the prevention, detection, and oftentimes lifelong treatment of NCDs, with referral linkages and continuity of care at multiple levels, provided in a timely manner at adequately staffed and equipped facilities. Chronic underfunding of Health Ministry has obliged many Malaysians to prepare for contingencies – Picture by Raymond Manuel MOH's chronic underfunding At a public forum in September 2019, Tan Sri (Dr) Abu Bakar Suleiman (DG Health, 1991–2001) attributed the chronic underfunding to a developmental strategy premised on large inflows of FDI attracted through competitive lowering of corporate and income tax rates, which hobbled the fiscal capacity of states. This however was not the sole reason for MOH's chronic underfunding. There was concurrently active encouragement of for-profit healthcare, with tax incentives and subsidies, to cater to 'market-capable' segments of society. Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (PM 1981–2003) unwisely chose not to expand the public sector to meet increasing healthcare needs, preferring instead to allow space for the rapid growth of for-profit healthcare. 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Malaysiakini
12 hours ago
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MP SPEAKS | Strictly, the question of whether an initiative or entity is public or private comes down to questions on ownership, control, sources of funding, distribution of profits, and purpose. Rakan KKM Sdn Bhd is 100 percent owned by the Minister of Finance Incorporated (MOF Inc). When a government-linked investment company (GLIC) investor comes in, the GLIC may take an equity stake in Rakan KKM Sdn Bhd. Ownership of Rakan KKM remains with the government, directly or through GLICs, throughout its operations. As for control, the Health Ministry is the "kementerian kawal selia" responsible for critical decisions over the management of the company. Seed funding of RM25 million from the Finance Ministry was announced in the budget. Additional scale-up funding from GLICs will be explored in Phase 2, which will be repaid through the revenues/profits of Rakan KKM operations. In all cases, sources of financing remain government or government-linked. Profit distribution is to the shareholders/owners of Rakan KKM - ie MOF Inc or GLICs. Rakan KKM's purpose As a public initiative, Rakan KKM serves five key objectives which are in the public interest: (a) In the environment of high medical price inflation, Rakan KKM provides premium economy value-based healthcare services to raise the ceiling, (b) Excess revenue from Rakan KKM will be used to cross-subsidise the services for all public patients, thus raising the floor, (c) Support the retention of ministry health workers by providing opportunities to increase their income considerably, (d) Serve as a price benchmark, including for services provided by private hospitals, to moderate medical price inflation for all, including patients who do not directly use Rakan KKM services, and (e) Provide appropriate returns for our GLIC shareholders and their members. Act 586 But why is Rakan KKM licensed under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 (Act 586)? Does that make it a private initiative? The experts who drafted Act 586 had the foresight to anticipate the possibility that the government would provide health services through a corporate body. This is important to ensure a level playing field with the private sector, especially if Rakan KKM is to play a role as a price benchmark. The Act clearly states that a government corporate body should be regulated under this Act. DZULKEFLY AHMAD is Kuala Selangor MP and health minister. The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
