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THE HEALTH | MAY , 2023
| Cover Story | the efficiency of healthcare systems . This enables medical professionals to concentrate on more complex tasks like diagnosis and treatment .
• Better diagnosis and treatment : Machine learning ( ML ), an AI technology , is used to analyse big data , including images and medical records , to assist clinicians in making better diagnoses and treatment choices .
• Personalised healthcare : Patients may make educated decisions about their health thanks to the personalised health insights provided by AI-enabled solutions like wearables and mobile health applications .
• Remote healthcare : Thanks to the development of telemedicine , patients can now get medical care conveniently in their homes . Doctors and nurses can use remote monitoring and video conferencing to treat patients anywhere .
• Health analytics : AI is used to analyse health data in real time , enabling medical professionals to spot trends and foresee potential health issues before they arise .
THE DIGITAL HEALTHCARE LANDSCAPE
Malaysia , said Dr Norhayati , is committed to using these disruptive technologies ’ advantages for the welfare of its people .
Malaysia has been actively encouraging AI , robotics , and telemedicine use . And the Malaysian government has taken appropriate steps to embrace and positively lead the disruption of artificial intelligence , robotics , and telemedicine in its healthcare system .
“ In 2019 , MoH unveiled its Digital Health Blueprint , outlining the nation ’ s goals for digital health . The roadmap outlines projects like creating a national health information exchange , creating telemedicine services , and using electronic medical records .
“ And , MySejahtera was developed to assist the government in managing and mitigating the Covid-19 outbreak and help users monitor their health throughout the outbreak . Transitioning to endemicity , MySejahtera has transformed and is now a comprehensive health application .
“ By expanding its scope beyond Covid-19 management , MySejahtera offers users a more holistic approach to healthcare management . It acts as a central hub for medical records and health information , making it easier for users to access their health data and track their progress .
“ The MoH has taken a leading role in telemedicine , robotics , and AI research and development in the healthcare industry . The research aims to raise patient safety , lower healthcare expenditure , and improve healthcare outcomes .
“ Malaysia has adopted robotics technology for use in the medical field . Robots are now used in hospitals and healthcare facilities to complete jobs including cleaning hospital rooms , dispensing medication , and supporting operations .”
Dr Rashid shared : “ The Malaysian government has made several initiatives to adopt the concept of digital in healthcare for the past 10 years . One of the key initiatives in this area is the Malaysia Health Data Warehouse ( MyHDW ), a centralised data collection for healthcare data from public and private healthcare providers nationwide .
“ Although the MoH established MyHDW in 2010 , we still have a long way to go before we can see a fruitful outcome , as there needs to be more support from various sectors , predominantly private hospitals . One of the key reasons is the lack of strong data privacy and security in data storage which doesn ’ t
attract private hospitals to be transparent with data sharing .
“ Last year , the then Health Minister launched the National Technology and Innovation Sandbox ( NTIS ), where various private stakeholders , including private hospitals , embark on to test the AI technology and telemedicine before its publicly available .
“ Unfortunately , nothing much has happened since the change of government . I hope our new Health Minister will continue to monitor the progress and ensure the initiative is successful like our neighbour Singapore .”
Dr Muruga Raj noted that it was important for doctors to keep themselves updated on the latest in digital healthcare technology or the Internet of Medical Things ( IoMT ).
Echoing the same , Dr Kuljit said : “ Doctors , healthcare providers must be well equipped with this knowledge . They need to train themselves to understand what AI is all about and participate in professional workshops , conferences and seminars .
MALAYSIA ’ S TELEMEDICINE JOURNEY
Telemedicine has become popular globally during the Covid-19 pandemic as it has supported hospitals by reducing Covid-19 exposure risks , conserving resources , easing the burden on healthcare facilities , and expanding access to care .
It has enabled remote consultations , management of non-emergency medical concerns , mental health support , remote monitoring , collaboration among healthcare professionals and improved public health surveillance .
These benefits have been crucial in helping Malaysia ’ s healthcare system manage the challenges posed by the pandemic .
Saravanan said Malaysia had come a long way in its telemedicine journey . “ Several major projects have been initiated to advance the adoption of digital health technologies and improve healthcare accessibility .” Some notable projects include :
• Telemedicine Blueprint ( 1997 ): This ambitious project began Malaysia ’ s telemedicine journey and aimed to develop a comprehensive telehealth infrastructure , including electronic medical records and health information exchange .
• Teleprimary Care ( TPC ) project : Launched in the early 2000s , this project focused on integrating telehealth services within primary healthcare settings to improve healthcare access , particularly in rural areas .
• MyHealth Portal : Introduced in 2008 , the MyHealth Portal is an online platform that allows Malaysians to access their personal health records , book appointments , and receive health advice , promoting better patient engagement and self-management .
• National Telehealth Policy ( 2016 ): This policy framework aimed to guide the nationwide planning , implementation , and evaluation of telehealth initiatives . It emphasised the importance of interoperability , standardisation , and user-centred design in telehealth services . Despite the numerous telemedicine projects and initiatives undertaken in Malaysia , Saravanan believes the country ’ s healthcare digitalisation and technological maturity still have room for growth compared to the HIMSS ( Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society ) standards .
“ We have pockets of developments , especially within the private healthcare sectors , embracing the cloud computing platform , which places itself ahead of the crowd .
“ Getting the basics like moving to the cloud and centralising data are important steps for healthcare , as it enables healthcare institutions to take advantage of the AI services on the cloud platform .” – The Health