THE Malaysian Ministry of Health (MOH) has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics in strengthening the country’s public healthcare system.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said that technology-driven approaches are essential in addressing contemporary public health challenges, particularly those stemming from rapid urbanisation, the growing burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases, and unequal access to medical services.
"AI is not a substitute for human expertise, but rather a catalyst for early intervention, efficient resource utilisation, and fairer service delivery," he stated in a post on Facebook.
According to Dr Dzulkefly, these initiatives are already underway, with 80 clinics currently employing the Cloud-Based Clinical Management System (CCMS), while 230 clinics and 22 hospitals have transitioned to using Electronic Medical Records (EMR).
He also noted that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has developed AI models for diseases such as COVID-19, diabetic retinopathy, and leprosy.
"At present, the NIH is developing a cloud-based research environment known as the Trusted Research Environment (TRE), a secure analytics platform that enables collaboration across various sectors," he said during his officiation of the 12th National Public Health Conference and the 26th NIH Scientific Conference.
Dr Dzulkefly further emphasised that the transformation of Malaysia’s healthcare system cannot rest solely with the government. Instead, it requires active participation from all stakeholders, including researchers, medical practitioners, and policymakers. - July 9, 2025
