Health Ministry committed to advancing AI, data analytics in healthcare system
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said this was in response to today's public health challenges, including urbanisation, dual disease burdens, and unequal access, which required new, evidence-based and technology-driven approaches.
"AI is not a replacement for humans, but a catalyst for early prevention, efficient resource utilisation and more equitable services," he said in a Facebook post today.
He said initial steps had already begun, with 80 clinics using a cloud-based Clinical Clinic Management System (CCMS), 230 clinics and 22 hospitals adopting Electronic Medical Records (EMR), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) developing AI models for Covid-19, diabetic retinopathy, and leprosy.
"Currently, the NIH is developing a Trusted Research Environment (TRE) as a secure and collaborative cloud-based analytics platform.
"This transformation cannot be driven by the government alone. It requires the involvement of all, especially researchers, practitioners and policymakers. Together, we can make it a success," he added. - BERNAMA
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
17 minutes ago
- The Sun
Malaysia Organ Crisis: 10,800 wait despite 400,000 pledges
KUALA LUMPUR: Nearly 10,800 Malaysians are waiting for organ transplants, yet only a fraction of more than 400,000 registered pledges since 1997 have resulted in actual donations, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said. He said kidneys are the most urgently needed, followed by liver, heart and lung transplants but donations often fail to proceed without family consent. Launching the National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week 2025 at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa today, Dzulkefly urged Malaysians to respect the wishes of loved ones who had registered as donors. 'Too often, organ donations cannot proceed because families withhold consent. This year's theme, Derma Organ: Warisku, Hormati Ikrarku (Organ Donation: My Heirs, Respect My Pledge), is about ensuring that donors' wishes are respected. 'If families honour these pledges, many more lives could be saved,' he said. As of July, 404,975 Malaysians had registered as organ donors, including 16,635 new pledges through the MySejahtera app. Despite this, donation rates remain low. In 2024, only 46 posthumous donations were recorded, equivalent to 1.33 donors per million population (PMP). By comparison, Turkiye recorded 7.5 PMP, the United States 34.14 PMP, and Spain 52.56 PMP. 'These figures show we are still far behind. Countries such as Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Iran – all Muslim-majority nations – have made organ donation a national priority. 'We must strengthen awareness across all races, cultures and religions in Malaysia,' Dzulkefly said. He said that the demand for transplants continues to rise as cases of end-stage organ failure increase nationwide. 'In 2023 alone, about 53,000 Malaysians were living with end-stage kidney failure. Dialysis is not a cure, it is only a treatment – three times a week, three hours per session. We must move beyond dialysis and focus on curative therapy – organ transplants,' he said. Since the country's first local transplant in 1975, Malaysia has successfully performed 3,359 organ transplants – 2,238 from living donors and 1,121 from deceased donors. Tissue donations, including corneas, heart valves, bones and skin grafts, are also on the rise, with nearly 200 recorded in 2024. A milestone was achieved last year when 74% of cornea transplants at Sungai Buloh Hospital used tissue donated by Malaysian citizens, reducing reliance on foreign sources. Looking ahead, Dzulkefly said the Health Ministry plans to transform the National Transplant Resource Centre into the National Transplant Centre to strengthen governance, expand capacity and accelerate innovation in transplantation. 'It can no longer just be talk, workshops or blueprints. We must leave footprints – real outcomes. Strong governance, proper coordination across centres and strategic planning are key,' he said. Malaysia will also push the organ donation agenda onto the regional stage. Dzulkefly said Malaysia would champion organ donation as a collective regional priority during the Asean Health Ministers' Meeting in 2026. 'Organ donation is not merely a medical issue, but one of compassion and sacrifice. Let us together make it a legacy of humanity, passed from one generation to the next,' he said. Acknowledging challenges such as workforce shortages, the contract doctor system and limited resources, Dzulkefly nevertheless stressed that organ donation will remain a key priority for the ministry.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Govt to resolve contract doctor issue promptly
KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry has begun reviewing the long-standing contract system for government doctors, with Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (pic) saying the government aims to resolve the issue promptly. Speaking after launching the National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week 2025 at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa today, Dr Dzulkefly said the contract scheme, introduced in 2016 to manage an oversupply of medical graduates, could no longer be allowed to drag on. 'After nine years – until 2025 and 2026 – many doctors are still stuck in this system. This should not be happening,' he said. He stressed that action must be taken to ensure fair career progression and stability for the current generation of doctors. 'We do not want a repetition of what happened before. If God wills, I am confident this issue will be resolved, at least in part. We must settle it properly,' he said. The minister had also assured in July that efforts were underway to expedite the absorption of contract doctors into permanent positions, reaffirming the government's commitment to address the matter. His latest remarks come after Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen urged the Health Ministry to abolish the contract system altogether, calling it outdated and counterproductive. Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat on Aug 12, Yii said the policy had 'outlived its purpose.' 'We are no longer facing an oversupply of doctors; instead, we lack both doctors and adequate medical facilities. 'For those who have served more than three years, especially in rural or remote areas, priority should be given for immediate, permanent placement,' he said. Medical groups and young doctors have long criticised the contract system for creating job insecurity and stifling career advancement, even as the public healthcare sector continues to struggle with shortages of doctors and nurses. The ministry has taken some steps to address the situation. On Aug 10, it announced that 4,352 candidates for Grade UD10 medical officer positions will receive offer letters for permanent appointments by Aug 18. Those who accept will begin reporting for duty in phases starting Oct 2 at ministry facilities nationwide. 'Permanent appointments must be implemented in stages as they involve officers from various contract cohorts and take into account their seniority and welfare,' the ministry said in a statement.
Barnama
2 hours ago
- Barnama
Family Objections Hinder Organ Donation, Over 10,000 Patients On Waiting List
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 17 (Bernama) -- Objections from organ donors' next of kin remain one of the main challenges for organ donation in the country, where over 10,000 patients are still on the waiting list for transplants, according to Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad. He said more than 400,000 Malaysians had pledged to donate their organs, but the number is considered low compared to the current demand. 'The number of deceased donors is still small, with only 46 cases, or 1.33 donors per million population,' he told reporters after launching the National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week here today. According to him, 10,800 kidney patients are waiting for transplants, in addition to those requiring liver, heart, and lung transplants. 'The organs most urgently needed are the liver and heart, as well as tissue and bone,' he said. Dr Dzulkefly said it is time for all parties to step up efforts and take proactive measures to strengthen the organ donation agenda in the country. He added that the theme 'Warisku, Hormati Ikrarku' of this year's National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week serves as a call for the public to respect the pledges made by organ donors. 'Hopefully, with this theme guiding our awareness programmes and fostering greater consciousness, we will achieve more success in implementing organ donation, as our current accomplishments remain low compared to countries with predominantly Muslim populations such as Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Iran, not to mention European countries like Spain and the United States,' he said. He said plans are also underway to transform the National Transplant Resource Centre into the National Transplant Centre as part of efforts to strengthen governance, increase capacity, and accelerate innovation in donation and transplant services, adding that the initiative is currently at the stakeholder engagement stage.
