PUTRAJAYA: The additional allocation of RM350mil, bringing the total allocation to RM1bil for the Health Ministry, will enable it to expand and accelerate the implementation of the Electronic Medical Records (EMR) system.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the allocation was crucial to accelerate the digitalisation of healthcare, besides providing a boost and enhancing the credibility of the initiative.
“With this allocation, it gives us not only a morale boost but also strengthens the credibility of and expedites the digitalisation of the public healthcare sector.
“We can also double the target number of public healthcare facilities (to be equipped with digital systems),” he told Bernama after attending the National Day celebrations here yesterday.
He said the additional allocation would enable the ministry to accelerate the implementation of the EMR compared with the original plan.
Dzulkefly said the ministry would also ensure that prompt and efficient implementation, including reviewing the needs of hospitals, occurs.
“Of course, I will go to the ground and conduct visits because this initiative will take effect tomorrow (today). But with this allocation, we need to determine how best to implement it.
“We will implement it promptly and more efficiently,” he said.
He said the public healthcare digitalisation initiative was large-scale, involving 150 hospitals and 2,000 health clinics nationwide.
“This initiative is expected to help improve the efficiency of the public healthcare system, including reducing waiting times, improving the patient experience and easing congestion at healthcare facilities,” he said, adding that the digitalisation would help improve working conditions and increase the productivity of healthcare personnel.
Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said his ministry was ready to implement the artificial intelligence (AI) for the people programme within the stipulated timeframe.
He said the ministry had made the necessary preparations following the announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the recent launch of AI Malaysia.
“On our side, we have made the necessary preparations, and we are ready,” he said, adding that the target of 100,000 participants for the programme is achievable.
“It is definitely possible. We will implement it in stages,” he added.
Anwar, when delivering the 2026 National Day Prime Minister’s Address on Sunday, announced six additional measures for the people, including restoring the BUDI95 eligibility quota to 300 litres, increasing the allocation for school maintenance by RM500mil and introducing a three-month free AI subscription programme targeting an initial 100,000 youths aged between 18 and 30.
He also announced raising the e-Invoice exemption threshold from RM1mil to RM3mil as well as providing RM200mil under the Madani Sejahtera grant and an additional RM1bil in financing for micro businesses in 2026.
