Malaysia deploys AI hospital system across 16 facilities in healthcare push

According to a report by Malaysia’s New Straits Times, Malaysia has set its ambitions on becoming the regional leader in artificial intelligence-driven diagnostics, telemedicine, and preventive healthcare, with the government pointing to a string of digital health initiatives already underway across the country’s public health system.

Deputy Health Minister Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib said the Ministry of Health had deployed the Total Hospital Information System (THIS) across 16 hospitals and extended a cloud-based clinic management system to more than 2,400 primary healthcare facilities nationwide. She added that AI-driven diagnostics and real-time data dashboards had been introduced to improve monitoring of healthcare facilities, alongside expanded access to telemedicine platforms in rural areas.

Speaking at the soft launch of Health Summit Asia (HSA) 2026 in Kuala Lumpur, Datuk Hanifah described digital transformation as a central pillar of the government’s RM46.52 billion healthcare allocation in the 2026 Budget — a 2.76 per cent increase year-on-year.

“The ministry’s vision is clear: to ensure a healthier Malaysia through equitable, accessible, and sustainable healthcare,” she said, referencing the national Agenda Nasional Malaysia Sihat framework.

HSA 2026, organised by Qube Integrated Malaysia in partnership with Green Wellness Malaysia, is scheduled to take place from 20 to 22 May. The summit will bring together healthcare and wellness stakeholders from across Asia and is expected to generate up to RM1.5 billion in commercial opportunities across the ASEAN healthcare and wellness market.

The event integrates two industry platforms — the Southeast Asia Healthcare and Pharma Show and the International Wellness Expo — with an aim to advance pharmaceutical care, disease prevention, and holistic wellness in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 on good health and well-being.