PETALING JAYA: Malaysia is stepping up efforts to improve respiratory healthcare nationwide through an integrated approach and stronger public-private partnerships, says Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (pic).
He said his ministry is focused on implementing Malaysia’s Lung Health Resolution, adopted at the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA) last year, to strengthen lung health services in Malaysia.
“Twelve months on, the resolution remains highly relevant as many of these same challenges mentioned continue to affect respiratory health outcomes globally today,” he said in his speech at the Lung Health Forum to mark the 79th WHA on Monday.
Dzulkefly said the focus would be implementing the resolution through two key strategies.
The first is strengthening of integrated lung health services at the primary care level.
He said this has been done by combining prevention, screening, early detection and referral pathways into a more person-centred healthcare system.
“This approach recognises that many respiratory conditions share common risk factors and frequently coexist within the same populations, requiring coordinated and integrated service delivery rather than fragmented disease-specific interventions,” he added.
Integrated services will include smoking cessation support, vaccinations, tuberculosis treatment services, lung cancer screening, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease management, occupational health care and structured referral systems.
AI-assisted chest X-ray screening will also be scaled up, including deployment of ultra-portable AI-enabled imaging technologies for underserved and hard-to-reach populations.
The second strategy focuses on strengthening public-private partnerships under the Lung Health Initiative Malaysia, bringing together nine strategic partners, including the National Cancer Society Malaysia, AstraZeneca and IHH Healthcare Malaysia.
“Through these collaborations, efforts in community engagement, awareness, screening, diagnostics, access to care and patient support will continue to be further strengthened.
“Together, these two approaches reflect the very heart of the resolution advancing an integrated lung health approach through a whole-of-society model,” he added.
Dzulkefly said the government aims to implement integrated lung health services in 902 health clinics nationwide by the end of 2026, including 65 clinics with occupational health services.
He added that the ministry will expand these lung health services into workplaces, particularly among frontline and high-risk occupational groups, through its LungShield Programme.
“Integrated lung health services should be embedded within primary healthcare systems as it is the most key platform for prevention, early detection, risk reduction and long-term management of lung diseases.
“The next phase after will be focused on sustained implementation, measurable progress, and stronger collaboration to improve respiratory health outcomes globally,” he said.
