KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and Singapore are further strengthening their strategic health partnership to address non-communicable diseases (NCDs), coordinate Nutri-Grade food labelling policies and explore opportunities on medical tourism.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, who disclosed this, said this was sealed in an MOU during a meeting with his Singapore counterpart Ong Ye Kung.
He said the MOU was a reflection of the high level of trust and commitment both nations share for the well-being of their people.
Among the key issues discussed was the alignment of the Nutri-Grade food labelling policy, which he described as a proactive and integrated step to combat NCDs across the region.
“This agreement reflects the high level of trust and strong commitment for the well-being of the people of both nations,” he said in a Facebook post yesterday.
Dzulkefly said Malaysia welcomed the implementation of the Medical Device Regulatory Reliance Programme, which is expected to accelerate access to high-quality and innovative medical technology in the regional market.
He said both countries are also exploring the potential to expand cross-border health tourism, including facilitating patient referrals from Singapore to private healthcare facilities in Johor, as well as expanding Medisave insurance coverage.
This step, he added, will not only strengthen access to healthcare but is also expected to stimulate economic spillovers and expand health connectivity in the country’s southern region.
In a separate post, Dzulkefly said the use of AI in the healthcare sector should not be viewed merely as a symbol of technological sophistication, but rather as a practice built on public trust and strong government governance.
He said the matter was raised during a high-level discussion on the future of AI hosted by the government of Portugal in Geneva.
He said public trust can only be maintained if AI was implemented safely, ethically, fairly and in a people-centred manner.
“This means secure data management and interoperable digital health systems are absolutely critical. Patient information must be protected and systems can no longer operate in silos,” he added.
Dzulkefly said Malaysia is now demonstrating the effectiveness of AI in the healthcare sector through AI-powered lung screenings conducted at public health clinics and through field programmes nationwide.
To date, he said 9,174 patients have been screened, with approximately 26.9% showing abnormal chest X-rays.
These include the detection of 724 lung nodules, 73 high-risk cancer cases and several suspected tuberculosis cases.
“These early detections allow for quick referrals and immediate treatment, helping to save patients’ lives,” he said.
However, he said no matter how advanced AI technology becomes, medical practitioners and frontline healthcare workers remained the core of every clinical decision and treatment.
“The presence of AI will never replace the expertise and human touch of a doctor or nurse. Instead, it empowers and augments their abilities,” he said.
