KUALA LUMPUR – Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said that he expects the ongoing Malaysia International Healthcare (MIH) Megatrends 2024 conference to delve into past and future improvements within the technological healthcare sector.
In setting his goals for the event, Fahmi highlighted the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), the Malaysian Medical Association, and the Malaysian Pharmacists’ Society in November last year.
“We hope that within that one-year time frame, we’ve been able to see how the health sector has adapted to technological advancements through digitalisation and other tech-related transformations.
“The event can highlight and showcase what has happened and how we’ve been able to help the healthcare sector take advantage of high-speed internet, among others, particularly with 5G and 5G-Advanced,” the minister told Scoop.
Besides that, Fahmi said that the three-day event which is set to run until Sunday can also look into some practical healthcare solutions that can be rolled out by various relevant quarters with the help of technological developments advanced by MCMC.
“(The healthcare sector) is a wide area (and) we hope to stress that with the kind of technological infrastructure that has been laid out, we should be thinking about how we can help those seeking medical aid and healthcare.”
Such services, Fahmi said, can be better attended to with newer technologies, thus reducing waiting time and travelling expenses while ensuring more accessible healthcare options.
Commenting on MIH Megatrends, which is organised by the Health Ministry in collaboration with MCMC and KPJ Healthcare as strategic partners, Fahmi said the partnership “makes sense” as the healthcare sector was a consideration in MCMC’s consideration of the 5G roll out.
“A lot of different sectors, such as those involving commodities and logistics, can take advantage of existing tech infrastructures (to) see through tech transformations for their respective industries.
“In terms of the health sector, I think MIH Megatrends is the perfect venue for this,” he added.
Previously, MCMC deputy managing director Datuk Zulkarnain Mohd Yasin said the commission has set telecommunication companies’ uptake in providing technological healthcare initiatives as one of its key performance indicators for the programme.
“We have seen 5G showcased in healthcare services, but applying (such capabilities) is something we’re aspiring to achieve and an initiative that we’re aiming for our service providers to embark on,” he told Scoop in an exclusive interview.
The inaugural MIH Megatrends aims to garner public discussions on ensuring equitable and sustainable healthcare access by bringing together global healthcare leaders, professionals, innovators, and policymakers.
The event is set to offer substantial opportunities for local and international investors to contribute to healthcare innovation, including the development of Smart Hospitals in Malaysia.
It also includes collaborations with the United States Trade and Development Agency, the Australian Trade and Investment Commission and the British High Commission, highlighting the critical role of the programme in ensuring Malaysia’s position as a regional leader in healthcare innovation. – October 26, 2024