PUTRAJAYA, Oct 19 — Malaysia is spearheading efforts to strengthen Asean’s self-reliance in essential medicines and reduce dependence on vulnerable global supply chains as part of a broader push to enhance regional health security, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
He said Malaysia is taking a leading role in advancing the Asean Drug Security and Self-Reliance (ADSSR) initiative, recognising the urgent need to build stronger regional capacity to safeguard access to critical medicines.
“Health security demands stronger regional capacity to secure essential medicines, rather than reliance on fragile external supply chains,” he said when delivering Malaysia’s country statement at the 77th Regional Committee Meeting for the Western Pacific in Manila, the Philippines, here today.
Dzulkefly said Malaysia’s commitment to strengthening regional health security is reflected in its leadership of the 17th Asean Health Ministers’ Meeting and the ADSSR initiative.
He said Malaysia is also pursuing structural reforms aimed at building a more sustainable healthcare system with greater emphasis on disease prevention, early detection and digital health transformation.
“We are bringing non-communicable disease (NCD) screening closer to communities, using fiscal measures such as sugar taxation, applying behavioural insights to encourage healthier choices, and strengthening our digital health architecture for early detection,” he said.
Dzulkefly said Malaysia’s Lung Health Initiative is another key component of the country’s healthcare reforms, integrating screening and treatment into primary healthcare settings.
He said the initiative aims to ensure continuity of care, from screening and early diagnosis to treatment and follow-up for both communicable and NCD lung diseases.
He said the government is adopting a whole-of-society approach by bringing together healthcare providers, civil society organisations, and the private sector to address common health risks, improve public awareness and reach the underserved populations.
On global health governance, Dzulkefly reaffirmed Malaysia’s support for reforms to the international health architecture amid financial volatility and geopolitical tensions.
He said Malaysia, through its participation in a task force alongside Japan and under China’s co-chairmanship, is advocating greater inclusivity for developing countries and Small Island Developing States.
He also stressed that the World Health Organisation (WHO) must translate policy recommendations into concrete action through partnerships that deliver measurable benefits to communities.
“WHO’s leadership, particularly the director-general (DG) and our regional director leadership, must move from advice to action, driving partnerships that deliver tangible results on the ground,” he also said.
Dzulkefly added that Malaysia envisions a resilient Western Pacific region where health supplies are secure and preventive healthcare is embedded at every level, while remaining ready to share its experience and translate regional solidarity into decisive, practical action.
Dzulkefly is currently leading the Malaysian delegation to the 77th Regional Committee Meeting for the Western Pacific from Oct 19 to 22 and is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on WHO DG Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and deliver an intervention statement on the WHO Programme Budget under Agenda Item 8.
Tomorrow, Dzulkefly will participate in a ministerial roundtable discussion on the Regional Health Essential Stockpile and Pooled Procurement Mechanism under Agenda Item 13 and pay a courtesy call on WHO regional director for the Western Pacific Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala.
He is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with two candidates for the WHO DG post, namely Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari of Qatar and Budi Gunadi Sadikin (Indonesia). — Bernama