Kuala lumpur: The Ministry of Health (MOH) will step up its preparedness in terms of manpower, monitoring and healthcare facilities to address the expected increase in health cases following the current haze situation affecting the country. Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the focus would include preparing for a sharp rise in health issues such as asthma and upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) due to poor air quality.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, this is important as the latest reports show that about 30 areas nationwide recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings. This serves as a signal for the MOH to be prepared, and Dr Dzulkefly informed the Cabinet meeting about the matter. He also advised that children, pregnant women, the elderly, and high-risk groups should wear face masks if they experience symptoms, avoid outdoor activities, and ensure adequate hydration.
Dr Dzulkefly emphasized that the MOH is collaborating with other ministries, including the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES), to address haze-related issues. He also announced plans to hold a special media session next week to provide a detailed explanation on the government's decision to withdraw its appeal against the High Court ruling in May that overturned the move to remove liquid nicotine from the list of scheduled poisons.
He also presented a Cabinet Memorandum at the Cabinet meeting, explaining the MOH's position and stance on the decision not to appeal the High Court judgment. Earlier, in his opening remarks, Dr Dzulkefly stated that Malaysia's medical device sector secured RM57.17 billion in approved investments involving 648 projects between 2015 and 2025, creating 131,994 high-value jobs. The industry remains export-driven, with exports accounting for an average of 80 percent of total trade.
Medical device exports reached RM21.1 billion in the second quarter of 2025, driven by products such as surgical gloves, needles, catheters, electro-diagnostic equipment, and orthopedic implants. Dr Dzulkefly noted that enforcement against unregistered medical devices had been intensified, with the MOH conducting about 15 raids between 2023 and 2025, resulting in the seizure of 1.3 million units worth RM1.68 million. Additionally, more than 4,000 enforcement raids were conducted involving unregistered health products, leading to over 43,000 seizures. Expanding trade and innovation while protecting public health and maintaining the integrity of the supply chain against counterfeit goods remain top priorities for the MOH.