Malaysian King, Sultan Ibrahim, to embark on a historic state visit to Russia, marking the first such visit by a Malaysian monarch since diplomatic relations were established in 1967.
Malaysia is embarking on a transformative journey to rebuild its national health care system under the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13), with a vision to create a stronger, fairer, and more resilient nation. At the heart of this transformation is the strategic use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), which is set to play a pivotal role in enhancing healthcare delivery efficiency and supporting healthcare workers.
The RMK13 outlines three pillars: raising the floor, raising the ceiling, and strengthening foundations. In the context of healthcare, "raising the floor" means improving services for the public, ensuring reliable and timely care for everyone. This includes the creation of a single lifelong health record for each citizen, under good governance, to facilitate complete and accurate health records that can improve decision-making for doctors and make public health responses more targeted and effective.
"Raising the ceiling" signifies taking bold steps towards a more innovative healthcare system. This involves using AI to detect heart conditions, spot tumors in scans, and advise on treatments for rare diseases. By doing so, Malaysia aims to become a place where medical innovation is both exported and accessible to its own people. A homegrown health AI sector could create new jobs and raise Malaysia's global profile.
AI is expected to aid in early disease screening, improving early detection and intervention. In rural areas, AI can bring care closer to where people live by enabling rural clinics to perform eye scans, triage symptoms, and follow up with patients more effectively. This will help in enhancing access and quality of care for underserved populations.
Supporting healthcare workers is crucial for the successful implementation of AI in healthcare. This includes fair pay, better career pathways, continuous training, and talent retention. Talent retention is essential for Malaysia to lead in AI and health, as AI can automate basic documentation, manage patient flow, and support scheduling in healthcare systems, freeing up time for healthcare professionals to focus on patient care.
RMK13 rests on a significant investment of RM40 billion towards healthcare, which includes the expansion of digital health services and the acceleration of health system digitalization. This involves introducing electronic medical records (EMRs) for secure data exchange between public and private facilities, facilitating better integration and responsiveness in healthcare delivery.
In conclusion, the RMK13's ambition to build a more responsive, efficient, and equitable healthcare system in Malaysia utilizes AI as a strategic enabler alongside increased funding, infrastructure upgrades, and workforce development. However, strong data governance and clear safeguards are necessary to ensure the safety and privacy of health information. Malaysians must trust that AI will be used to help, not harm, in healthcare. The "Made by Malaysia" slogan extends to people, not just products, emphasizing the importance of talent as a foundation for success in AI and health.
[1] Ministry of Health Malaysia. (2021). 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13) - Health. Retrieved from https://www.moh.gov.my/ms/node/18689
[2] Prime Minister's Department Malaysia. (2021). 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13) - Economic Transformation. Retrieved from https://www.pmo.gov.my/ms/node/18704
[4] Digital Nasional Berhad. (2021). National Digital Health Blueprint (NDHB) 2020-2025. Retrieved from https://www.dnbhub.my/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/NDHB-2020-2025.pdf
- The 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13) includes a significant investment of RM40 billion towards healthcare, with the aim of modernizing the health system and introducing digital health services, such as the adoption of electronic medical records (EMRs), to enhance integration and responsiveness in healthcare delivery.
- Malaysia's policy in using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the healthcare sector is multifaceted, encompassing the creation of a single lifelong health record for each citizen to aid in decision-making for doctors, as well as the utilization of AI to improve early disease screening, such as the detection of heart conditions and spotting tumors in scans.
- In the context of Malaysia's RMK13, AI is also expected to bring healthcare services closer to underserved rural populations through innovative applications, such as enabling rural clinics to perform eye scans, triage symptoms, and follow up with patients more effectively.
- The successful implementation of AI in Malaysia's healthcare system necessitates a focus on supporting healthcare workers, which includes fair pay, better career pathways, continuous training, and talent retention, ensuring the seamless integration of AI technologies into the healthcare sector while safeguarding the privacy and safety of health information.
