HEALTHCARE careers often bring to mind roles such as doctors, nurses, physical therapists and dietitians.
However, there are other vital roles in healthcare that school-leavers can consider by pursuing relevant courses at the tertiary level.
According to IMU University School of Business and Technology dean Prof Dr Saravanan Muthaiyah (pic), there is a growing demand for professionals in healthcare management, particularly in business, technology and strategic operations.
“Several key trends and challenges are driving this demand, such as the digital transformation in healthcare.
“The integration of electronic health records, artificial intelligence (AI)-powered diagnostics, and telemedicine has created a strong need for health informatics specialists, cybersecurity professionals and AI-driven data analysts,” he told StarEdu.
He added that with ageing populations worldwide, healthcare systems must manage a growing number of chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and dementia.
“This has increased demand for healthcare financial analysts, patient experience officers and operations managers who can optimise resources, reduce inefficiencies and improve patient-centred care,” he said.
Prof Saravanan advised Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) candidates who are considering their future career pathways to understand their interests and strengths.
He noted that visionary thinking, confidence in decision-making, accountability, problem-solving skills, data literacy, and attention to detail are key characteristics suited for healthcare management roles.
“Healthcare is evolving rapidly, and future leaders will need to integrate business acumen, technological expertise and ethical responsibility to create sustainable, patient-centred healthcare solutions,” he said.
Citing rising healthcare costs, Prof Saravanan highlighted the importance of roles in healthcare financial planning, revenue cycle management and supply chain logistics to ensure financial sustainability.
He added that the rise of value-based care models – where providers are paid based on patient outcomes rather than services rendered – has created demand for data analysts and healthcare consultants to assess performance metrics.
With the Covid-19 pandemic accelerating the adoption of telehealth and digital health solutions, Prof Saravanan said opportunities have emerged for telehealth coordinators, digital health strategists, and UX/UI designers for health applications.
“Remote monitoring tools and wearable technology have further driven demand for professionals in health data science, AI-driven diagnostics and cybersecurity,” he said.
He also said that with evolving regulations in healthcare, hospitals and health-tech companies need compliance officers, legal experts and risk managers to navigate regulatory landscapes.
“The growing emphasis on health equity and access has also led to roles in policy analysis and healthcare consulting,” he said.
To be future-ready for roles in healthcare strategy, operations and leadership, Prof Saravanan said students must develop a multifaceted skillset that balances technical expertise with leadership and interpersonal skills.
These include decision-making, critical thinking, change management, strategic thinking and project management.
“Professionals in healthcare management play a direct role in patient care and public health.
“Whether through data-driven insights, operational efficiency, financial planning, digital transformation or policy development, these roles keep healthcare systems running, innovating and improving,” he said.
Prof Saravanan shared that IMU University’s School of Business and Technology prepares students for these roles through approaches such as case studies and industry collaborations.
“Students analyse real-world healthcare management challenges, including hospital administration, public health policies and digital health solutions.
“They also work on live industry projects, such as digital health transformation, preparing them to lead technology-driven change in hospitals, clinics and healthcare startups,” he said.
With the digital transformation revolutionising healthcare, AI, big data, telemedicine, blockchain and automation are becoming integral to patient care and hospital management.
“To thrive in this evolving landscape, students must master technical, analytical and soft skills,” he concluded.
Zhan Xuan, 18, a student in Kuala Lumpur, is a participant of the BRATs Young Journalist Programme run by The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) team. For updates on the BRATs programme, go to facebook.com/niebrats.
