MALAYSIANS seeking treatment at public hospitals and clinics are set to benefit from a RM1 billion digitalisation drive aimed at making healthcare services faster and more accessible.
Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said the increased allocation would accelerate the rollout of electronic medical records and internet connectivity at government healthcare facilities nationwide.
"The amount announced previously was RM650 million, but the Prime Minister has asked for it to be increased to RM1 billion.
"It is to accelerate digital access, including public WiFi at health clinics and government hospitals, as well as the electronic medical record programme that we previously implemented at Padang Besar Health Clinic," he said.
The initiative is expected to allow doctors to access patients' medical information electronically instead of relying on physical records, potentially saving time during consultations and treatment.
"From there, doctors can now obtain information about patients without referring to physical documents. Everything is done electronically. This saves time for those seeking treatment," Fahmi said.
He was speaking to reporters after the 2026 National Day Prime Address at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) today. The special address was delivered by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Earlier, Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, announced that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) would provide RM1 billion for electronic medical records and internet connectivity at 150 hospitals and more than 2,000 public health clinics nationwide.
The increased allocation represents a significant expansion from the RM650 million previously announced for the initiative.
Fahmi said his ministry and MCMC would hold discussions soon on implementation, with the initial phase expected to cover 15 hospitals.
"But I will ask for this figure to be increased further, and from the 2,000 health clinics, we will try to increase the number that can benefit," he said.
The wider rollout could particularly benefit patients who require treatment at multiple government facilities, as digital access to medical information could reduce reliance on physical records and improve the flow of information between healthcare providers. - August 30, 2026
