Technological marvel: Dzulkefly (centre) and Cheah (second from left) attending the launch of the photon-counting computer tomography system at Sunway Medical Centre in Selangor. — LOW BOON TAT/The Star
SUBANG JAYA: The launch of Malaysia’s first photon-counting computed tomography (PCCT) system signals a shift towards precision-driven and digitally enabled healthcare, says Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
The Health Minister said the ministry positions early detection and value-based care at the centre of its reform agenda.
He explained that the system delivers ultra-high-resolution scans while reducing radiation exposure by up to 50%, making it useful for cancer, cardiovascular and paediatric patients requiring repeated imaging.
He added that advanced imaging technologies that reduce radiation exposure while improving tissue differentiation and image precision are key to achieving better outcomes and improving the overall patient journey.
Dzulkefly described the Alpha PCCT system as “the way to go” in diagnostic imaging, adding that it represents an advanced generation of CT technology that counts each individual X-ray photon and measures its energy directly.
This, he said, enables spectral imaging by default and produces significantly sharper and clearer images.
“As a nation, we are at a pivotal point in our health reform journey,” Dzulkefly said when launching the PCCT at Sunway Medical Centre here yesterday.
The launch was also attended by Sunway Group founder and chairman Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah.
Dzulkefly added that the ministry is laying the foundation for a future-focused, digitally enabled and data-driven system, moving beyond acute, episodic care towards precision-driven, continuous health management.
He said the recently launched Digital Health Strategic Plan 2026-2030 underpins the ministry’s shift towards value-based healthcare, emphasising early intervention and improved clinical decision-making.
Technologies that enhance diagnostic clarity and accuracy are essential to this transformation, particularly as Malaysia grapples with the rising burden of non-communicable diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and chronic respiratory conditions, he said.
The challenge, he added, is further compounded by demographic shifts towards an ageing population, which will require more modernised care and delivery models.
“The future of healthcare will depend not only on treatment, but on how early and how precisely we can detect disease,” Dzulkefly said.
He also highlighted the role of public-private partnerships in strengthening the healthcare ecosystem.
He noted that innovation and advanced diagnostics are no longer optional but foundational to building a resilient, inclusive and modern health system aligned with the goal of universal health coverage.
