Malaysia wants to be proactive in cancer control, says Dr Dzulkefly

Dr Dzulkefly says alternative dialysis centres have been identified.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is committed to shifting its focus on the control of cancer and non-communicable diseases (NCD) from reactive to proactive, says Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.  

The Health Minister said investment in public and preventive health to reduce risk factors include strengthening the country's commitment to the framework convention of tobacco control by the adoption and implementation of the Tobacco Control Act.

"As cutting edge technology for cancer treatment increases in Malaysia, we will reinforce our universal health coverage with the B40 insurance plan.

"We also pledge to bring our national cancer control plan to the highest level of the government to have it fully funded and resourced.

"A target as ambitious, complex and as large as this requires support from various stakeholders and sectors just as how the sustainable development goals are closely linked to each other," he said in his speech during the opening ceremony of the World Cancer Congress 2018 here, organised for the first time in South-East Asia, on Monday (Oct 1).

Dr Dzulkefly added that exposure to risk factors of these diseases are largely determined by policies between labour, finance, urban planning and education instead of just health.

He said ministries such as Finance; International Trade and Industry; Youth and Sports; Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change should ensure sustainable financing of cancer and NCD control plan.

"There should also be a sound implementation to price and tax measures, a coherence between trade and health policies and the protection for public health when establishing trade agreements and early intervention in ensuring health enabling environment and lifestyle.

"Cancer is the main health challenge for a developed world and surely, we take cognisance that Malaysia is fast achieving a developed nation status and true enough, cancer is catching up with the cardiovascular diseases as a public health burden," said Dr Dzulkefly.

He added that helping tobacco users quit and preventing the young ones from starting smoking are the most urgent priority to prevent cancer.

Dignitaries present during the event were Permaisuri of Johor Raja Zarith Sofiah Sultan Idris Shah, Union for International Cancer Control president Prof Sanchia Aranda, World Health Organisation assistant director-general Dr Princess Nothemba (Nono) Simelela, Oman Cancer Association founder and life president Yuthar al Rawahy, Oman's Sultan Qaboos University assistant vice-chancellor Her Highness Sayyida Dr Mona Fahd Al Said and National Cancer Society of Malaysia president Dr Saunthari Somasundaram.