KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is committed to enhancing the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) and spearheading efforts to establish more efficient and integrated regulatory frameworks within the healthcare system in the region.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said these efforts include ensuring the safety of medical devices, strengthening patient care systems, improving infrastructure, and adopting modern technology in treatments.
He said healthcare was a crucial pillar, not only under Asean but also as part of the strategies outlined in the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030).
"With Malaysia set to assume the Asean chairmanship in 2025, we are fully committed to advancing the MRA and leading initiatives to create a more efficient and integrated regulatory framework for the region.
"As we know, the primary focus of next year's Asean chairmanship is the establishment of an Asean energy grid, followed by digitalisation and healthcare.
"These have been identified as key pillars of sustainable growth, not only under Asean's strategy but also as a focus of NIMP 2030," he said.
Anwar said this at the closing ceremony of the International Medical Device Exhibition and Conference 2024 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre today.
Also present were Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad and Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli.
Anwar said the Health Ministry (MoH) faces significant challenges in realising this aspiration, particularly in establishing Malaysia as a hub for high-tech medical manufacturing and healthcare innovation.
"We see the country's strong emphasis on digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI).
"This demands readiness from our colleagues leading the Health Ministry, particularly Dr Dzulkefly, to embrace it as a challenge, which will inevitably require substantial changes.
"(This includes) more transparent procurement processes that benefit the people and are not bound by outdated regulations, methods, and approaches.
"(Additionally), improving networks is something that can undoubtedly be achieved with the digital and AI facilities we are introducing, including in the MoH," he said.
He added that despite the nation's financial constraints, the government has still allocated MoH the second-highest budget for 2025.
This allocation, he said, is aimed at enabling the ministry to enhance the quality of the existing healthcare system, including infrastructure upgrades, staff upskilling, and advanced digital integration featuring AI, the Internet of Things (IoT), and 5G network technology.