Kuala lumpur: Malaysia is currently facing a shortage of oncologists with only 184 doctors in the field serving nationwide, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad. He said the number is still not enough to meet the growing demand, hence the Ministry of Health (MOH) is taking a cluster hospital approach to expand access to oncology services.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dzulkefly stated, "So far, we have 184 oncologists nationwide based on 2025 data, which is an increase of 60 per cent compared to 2019. Of that number, 65 serve under the Ministry of Health, 107 in the private sector while the rest are still in training." He acknowledged the shortage and emphasized a cluster-based approach where specialists in major hospitals support district hospitals or facilities lacking permanent specialists.
Dzulkefly highlighted that cancer remains the third highest cause of death in Malaysia, with new cases stable at around 40,000 per year. Despite this, the ministry plans to intensify early screening and prevention efforts, focusing on breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancer.
Quoting data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), Dzulkefly noted that cancer accounted for 14.3 per cent of all deaths in 2024, up from 13.8 per cent in 2023. To bridge the access gap for the B40 community and rural residents, Dzulkefly announced the launch of the Cancer Heroes programme, aimed at expanding early screening and treatment with a "closer to home" approach.
The initiative, in collaboration with SBS Nexus and the National Cancer Society of Malaysia, is a paradigm shift backed by the Royal Family, targeting six major types of cancer: breast, colorectal, lung, cervical, genitourinary, and childhood cancer. Dzulkefly mentioned the programme's support through partnerships with 13 non-governmental organizations to enhance prevention, disease control, and integrated support services for patients.
To tackle the cancer burden, the ministry will focus on four main areas: prevention, promotion, advocacy, and screening, aiming for early detection and timely treatment, including through the Cancer Heroes programme.