Dzulkefly: 902 health clinics nationwide to offer AI-assisted lung screening by year-end

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 15 — Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad announced that 902 health clinics across Malaysia will begin utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) for lung disease screening by the end of this year. This initiative is part of the 2025-2030 Lung Health Initiative to enhance prevention, early detection, and management of respiratory diseases in the country.

The AI-assisted screening will be supported by the NALURY database. Dzulkefly emphasized the importance of strengthening lung health, as respiratory diseases account for one in five global deaths. He also highlighted Malaysia's proactive role in championing an integrated lung health resolution at the 78th World Health Assembly and elevating it as a regional agenda at the 17th ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting.

Dr Dzulkefly praised the RESPIRE research unit's decade-long contributions to respiratory health research and urged the scientific community to collaborate with policymakers to translate discoveries into effective public health interventions. He thanked Universiti Malaya, the University of Edinburgh, and all RESPIRE members for their dedication to addressing global respiratory health challenges.

Malaysia remains committed to evidence-driven and solution-centric health policies, as evidenced by the recent officiating of the 2026 RESPIRE Annual Scientific Meeting, which gathered over 100 international delegates in the capital.