PETALING JAYA: Malaysia will use the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA79) to push for people-centred health reforms, humanitarian assistance and stronger regional cooperation while showcasing its leadership in areas including rare diseases, mental health and access to affordable medicines, says the Health Ministry.
Malaysia’s delegation to WHA79, to be held from Monday to Sunday (May 18 to 23) in Geneva, Switzerland, is led by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, the ministry said in a statement on Monday.
The event will be It attended by health ministers, senior officials and policymakers from member states of the World Health Organisation, marking "a transformative era in the country’s health diplomacy, transitioning from global recognition to the decisive translation of policy into action for the benefit of the people," the statement read.
"A cornerstone of this mission is the delivery of the Country Statement on Tuesday (May 19), where Malaysia will advocate for people-centred health reforms and unimpeded global humanitarian assistance," it added.
The ministry said Malaysia would undertake 18 strategic interventions covering issues such as malaria elimination, mental health, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and the economics of health for all.
It added that Dzulkefly had been invited to deliver keynote addresses and lead discussions at six international forums on topics including lung health, eye health, behavioural sciences, hepatitis and rare diseases.
The ministry said Malaysia was spearheading a proposed Asean declaration on rare diseases aimed at improving early diagnosis and equitable access to specialised care, particularly for children.
Domestically, it said the National Blueprint for Behavioural Sciences would reinforce the "War on 5S" targeting sugar, smoke, salt, stigma and sedentary lifestyles as part of efforts to address NCDs and mental health.
The ministry said bilateral meetings with Spain would explore adapting its organ donation model for Malaysian patients, while engagements with Singapore, Vietnam and Bangladesh would focus on digital health initiatives and health security.
It added that Malaysia’s efforts to secure affordable access to critical medicines had earned international recognition, with the Medicines Patent Pool selecting the country as a global case study for leadership in the national HIV response.
"These milestones reflect the ministry's unwavering commitment under the Madani framework to build a health system that is equitable, modern and inclusive for the wellbeing of all Malaysians," the statement read.
