Kuala lumpur: The Ministry of Health (MOH) is committed to enhancing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics in the country’s healthcare system. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said this was in response to today’s public health challenges, including urbanisation, dual disease burdens, and unequal access, which required new, evidence-based and technology-driven approaches.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dr Dzulkefly emphasized that AI is intended to serve as a catalyst for early prevention, efficient resource utilisation, and more equitable services rather than a replacement for human intervention. Initial steps towards this technological advancement are already underway. Currently, 80 clinics are utilising a cloud-based Clinical Clinic Management System (CCMS), with 230 clinics and 22 hospitals adopting Electronic Medical Records (EMR). In addition, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is developing AI models to address various health issues, including COVID-19, diabetic retinopathy, and leprosy.

The NIH is also in the process of creating a Trusted Research Environment (TRE), described as a secure and collaborative cloud-based analytics platform. Dr Dzulkefly highlighted the necessity of collective effort in driving this transformation, stating that involvement from researchers, practitioners, and policymakers is crucial for success.