Kuala lumpur: The Health Ministry (MOH) and IHH Healthcare Malaysia have signed their third Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing a strategic public-private partnership to expand access to advanced cancer treatment.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad stated that the agreement will enable an additional 500 cancer patients to receive high-quality radiotherapy and radiosurgery at no cost. These services will be delivered by MOH oncologists and neurosurgeons utilizing IHH’s facilities.
The agreement increases the number of participating IHH facilities to eight hospitals, including the newly added Island Hospital in Penang. These hospitals are equipped with Gamma Knife and LINAC technologies, allowing for precise, high-impact treatment, particularly for tumors located in sensitive areas, as highlighted by Dr Dzulkefly during the MoU signing ceremony.
The MoU was signed by MOH secretary-general Datuk Seri Suriani Ahmad and IHH Healthcare Malaysia chief executive officer Jean-Fran§ois Naa. Dr Dzulkefly noted that the collaboration, which began in 2022, has already benefited 1,000 cancer patients across the nation.
The Health Minister emphasized that this collaboration is a significant step towards closing the access gap for underserved and lower-income groups. It also aligns with Malaysia’s broader commitment to Universal Health Coverage, ensuring that cancer care is treated as a right rather than a privilege. He stressed that a patient’s health outcome should not be determined by their location or income level.
From 2020 to 2024, the Malaysia National Cancer Registry recorded over 165,000 new cancer cases, with breast, colorectal, lung, lymphoma, and liver cancer being the most prevalent. Alarmingly, more than 60 percent of cases are detected at late stages, when treatment becomes more complex, costly, and less effective.
Meanwhile, a statement from MOH indicated that the types of cancer treated under the MoU include brain tumors, brain metastases, head and neck cancers, as well as various other cancers such as lung, breast, colorectal, and lymphoma. The MoU is expected to serve as a catalyst for strengthening public-private partnerships, thereby supporting the ministry’s efforts in combating cancer and expanding access to care and treatment for cancer patients in the country.
The initiative aligns with the National Strategic Plan for Cancer Control, which prioritizes early detection, effective treatment, palliative care, and broad system coordination to reduce the national cancer burden.