Include university, military hospitals in digital health network, says MMA

The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has called for university and military hospitals to be incorporated into the national electronic medical records system. MMA President Dr R Thirunavukarasu acknowledged the RM1 billion funding for enhancing the EMR system's connectivity across public healthcare facilities, but emphasized the importance of linking separate components of the system.

Currently, 50 private hospitals and over 3,000 private general practitioners are connected through the Malaysia Digital Health Certification Network, enabling seamless health information sharing among participating facilities.

The MMA is collaborating with the health ministry to expand the network and strengthen relationships between public and private healthcare providers. However, Thirunavukarasu stressed that the RM1 billion allocation should not solely be used for software development. Many public healthcare facilities are outdated and require improved computers, internet connections, and other supporting equipment. The government must also consider cybersecurity, maintenance, and future upgrades to ensure the system's long-term reliability.

Additionally, Thirunavukarasu highlighted the necessity of training healthcare workers in utilizing the new technology to make their work more efficient rather than overwhelming them with additional paperwork. He stressed the need for a clear rollout timeline, precise targets, and a detailed breakdown of how the RM1 billion will be allocated.

Thirunavukarasu stressed that the investment should facilitate patient access to care across different healthcare system components, transforming the digital health network from an IT project to a patient-centric solution.