Lung health: Dzulkefly targets 902 health clinics for respiratory care expansion
KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry aims to have 902 health clinics nationwide implement an integrated lung health approach by the end of this year.
KUALA LUMPUR: Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad has announced plans to expand health clinics nationwide to implement an integrated lung health approach by year-end. The initiative, part of the Healthy Lung Initiative 2025-2030, aims to tackle Malaysia's respiratory disease burden, which ranks among the top three causes of hospital admissions and deaths.
The approach combines health promotion, screening, smoking cessation efforts, and referral pathways into a person-centered continuum of care. Dr Dzulkefly highlighted that chronic respiratory diseases like asthma and COPD affect a significant portion of the population. According to the 2023 National Health and Morbidity Survey, 6% of adults and up to 13% of children have asthma, with one in three asthmatics undiagnosed.
The tuberculosis incidence rate in 2024 was 96 cases per 100,000 people. The ministry is also expanding the use of AI-assisted chest X-ray screening and has established a national lung health registry to monitor and evaluate the programme. Additionally, enforcement of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 is aimed at protecting young people from vape and electronic cigarette marketing.
Dr Dzulkefly expressed hope that the Respire programme would continue to foster collaboration beyond its final Annual Scientific Meeting.
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