PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia has introduced its first specialized counselling module designed to equip primary care healthcare providers with the skills to address the emotional and psychological burdens faced by couples undergoing fertility treatment.
The Infertility Counselling Module for Primary Care aims to bridge a gap in the healthcare system, ensuring clinical expertise is paired with empathetic patient care.
Launching the module at the National Reproductive Health Symposium 2026 on Tuesday (Sept 29), Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said that medical treatment alone is insufficient without emotional support.
"Clinical expertise alone is not enough to fully support patients through their journey," Nancy said at a press conference. "Healthcare providers also need the tools and knowledge to manage their patients' emotional needs."
"We are not expecting specialists to become emotional experts overnight, but this initiative brings professionals together to close that gap," she added.
Beyond counselling, the module seeks to streamline referral pathways across various healthcare levels, enabling primary care doctors to seamlessly direct patients to obstetrics and gynaecology specialists when required.
Nancy noted that subfertility remains widely misunderstood, often mistakenly viewed as an exclusively female issue. She stressed that both men and women are affected, making early detection, timely intervention, and structured referrals essential.
"Sometimes a doctor's expertise is confined to a single field. Platforms like this symposium allow public, private, and corporate healthcare providers to share knowledge on treatments, medications, and care networks," she said.
Addressing financial support for couples seeking fertility care, Nancy confirmed that assistance under Budget 2026 remains integrated within the ministry’s existing annual allocation.
