PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia is spearheading efforts to help Asean countries reduce their reliance on fragile international supply lines of essential medicines and build local capacity, says Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (pic).
The Health Minister said Malaysia is taking a leading role in advancing the Asean Drug Security and Self-Reliance (ADSSR) initiative, recognising the urgent need to safeguard access to critical medicines.
“Health security demands stronger regional capacity to secure essential medicines, rather than reliance on fragile external supply chains,” he said while delivering Malaysia’s country statement at the 77th Regional Committee Meeting for the Western Pacific in Manila, the Philippines, yesterday.
Dzulkefly said Malaysia’s commitment to strengthening regional health security is reflected in its leadership of the 17th Asean Health Ministers’ Meeting and the ADSSR initiative.
He said Malaysia is also pursuing structural reforms aimed at building a more sustainable healthcare system with greater emphasis on disease prevention, early detection and digital health transformation.
“We are bringing non-communicable disease (NCD) screening closer to communities, using fiscal measures such as sugar taxation, applying behavioural insights to encourage healthier choices, and strengthening our digital health architecture for early detection,” he said.
Dzulkefly said Malaysia’s Lung Health Initiative is another key component of the country’s healthcare reforms, integrating screening and treatment into primary healthcare settings.
He said the initiative aims to ensure continuity of care, from screening and early diagnosis to treatment and follow-up for both communicable and NCD lung diseases, Bernama reported.
He said the government is adopting a whole-of-society approach by bringing together healthcare providers, civil society organisations and the private sector to address common health risks, improve public awareness and reach underserved populations.
On global health governance, Dzulkefly reaffirmed Malaysia’s support for reforms to the international health architecture amid financial volatility and geopolitical tensions.
He said Malaysia, through its participation in a taskforce alongside Japan and under China’s co-chairmanship, is advocating greater inclusivity for developing countries and Small Island Developing States.
