KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia must move beyond an illness-driven model and towards one of integrated care as the population ages and disease burden rises, says Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
"As Malaysia confronts an ageing population, a rising burden of non-communicable diseases, the pressures of chronic illness and the changing structure of our families, the question before us is no longer whether we can afford to invest in care.
"The real question is whether we can afford not to," he said in his speech at the Selangor International Care Expo 2026 here on Thursday (Oct 15).
"We must move beyond an illness-driven model that waits for people to become sick before we intervene.
"We must build an integrated continuum of care, from prevention and early intervention to treatment, rehabilitation, long-term care and palliative support-bringing care closer to where people live, work and age," he added.
He said with financing and the right policies, the care economy has the potential to generate decent jobs, unlock innovation, strengthen workforce participation and create new engines of sustainable growth.
"This is also an economic opportunity. With the right policies, it can transform ageing from a perceived demographic burden into an opportunity for productive participation, intergenerational solidarity and a thriving Silver Economy," he said.
Dzulkefly pointed out that the care economy is not merely about caring for people but also building an economy that enables people to live healthier, longer, more productive and more dignified lives.
He said care has been viewed as a social obligation, a private family responsibility, or an expense to be borne by governments and households.
Rather, he added, the nation should aim for a Care Economy which values care as productive work, recognises it as a shared responsibility, and places human dignity at the centre of national development.
"When we invest in care, we are not simply spending on today’s needs. We are investing in our people’s capabilities, our economy’s resilience and the future of generations yet to come," he said.
