PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) launched its inaugural International Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Healthcare Conference on Saturday (Aug 15), aiming to propel Malaysia from isolated pilot projects toward safe, scalable, and clinician-led AI implementation.
The two-day conference at the M World Hotel, themed “AI with a Human Touch: Personalising Healthcare for Every Malaysian,” brought together 350 clinicians, policymakers, academics, and industry leaders.
Officiating the event, Health Ministry Medical Practice Division director Dr Hirman Ismail reminded delegates that while AI processes data rapidly, it cannot replicate the core values of medicine.
“For centuries, the Hippocratic Oath has reminded us that medicine is a moral profession—one demanding compassion, integrity, humility, and service,” Dr Hirman said, noting that ethical frameworks like the Malaysian Medical Council’s Code of Professional Conduct guide these duties.
“AI does not carry moral responsibility. It does not feel empathy, nor does it understand context, culture, or human suffering. Only a doctor does,” he added, emphasising that technology must serve healthcare rather than overshadow its humanity.
Dr Hirman highlighted discussions on the National Digital Health Blueprint, data interoperability, and clinical ethics as essential foundations for safe adoption.
“The question is no longer whether AI will be part of healthcare, but how we choose to use it,” he said. “Let us embrace the possibilities of AI, but never lose sight of the human beings our system exists to serve.”
Echoing these sentiments, MMA president Datuk Dr Thirunavukarasu Rajoo stressed that the conference was organised to address tough questions around clinical accountability and patient care rather than simply celebrate technology.
“As a practising GP, every discussion about AI eventually returns to the consultation room,” Dr Thirunavukarasu said. “It is all about those 10 minutes between a doctor and a patient that we develop this entire ecosystem for.”
Drawing on his experience managing digital transformation across more than 200 clinics, he cautioned that software alone cannot fix systemic flaws.
“AI will not repair fragmented systems or unclear accountability; it will simply amplify what is already there. If we are weak, it will amplify our weakness. That is why organisational readiness must precede scale,” he noted.
He urged cross-sector collaboration to keep patient safety at the centre, adding that AI’s primary goal should be removing administrative burdens so doctors have more time to listen and care. “In medicine, accuracy alone is not enough. We need safety, accountability, and a duty of care. We must be ambitious in vision, but pragmatic in execution.”
Delivering a global keynote, Dr Curtis Langlotz, director of the Stanford University AIMI Centre, framed AI as a tool for augmentation rather than replacement. He pointed out that while media headlines often pit machine accuracy against human capabilities, the highest quality of care happens when both work together.
“The combination of human plus machines will be better than either one alone,” Dr Langlotz said. “That pattern has held for many years.”
