Malaysia Urged To Consider Wider Societal Impacts In Healthcare Decisions - PhAMA

KUALA LUMPUR, June 29 (Bernama) -- Malaysia should consider the wider socio-economic impacts of illness, including productivity losses, caregiver burden and household financial strain when evaluating and funding healthcare treatments.

Health policymakers and industry leaders made this call at the second Value-Based Healthcare (VBHC) Forum 2026, themed "Building Blocks for Value: Advancing Societal Perspectives in Health Technology Assessment, From Concept to Implementation," organised by the Pharmaceutical Association of Malaysia (PhAMA).

Health Technology Assessment (HTA), the process used to evaluate whether medicines, vaccines, medical devices and other health interventions deliver sufficient value for public investment has traditionally prioritised clinical effectiveness, safety and direct healthcare costs.

According to speakers at the forum, HTA in Malaysia may need to expand its scope to fully recognise the value of healthcare interventions beyond the clinical setting.

Ministry of Health (MOH) Deputy Director of the Medical Development Division and Head of the Malaysian Health Technology Assessment Section (MaHTAS) Dr Syaqirah Akmal said healthcare choices carry profound consequences for families, caregivers and the national economy.

“Productivity losses, caregiver burden, household financial strain and quality of life are fundamental considerations that are relevant to a fuller understanding of what healthcare interventions cost, and what they deliver," she said in the officiating address delivered on behalf of the Director-General of Health, Datuk Dr Mahathar Abdul Wahab.

Meanwhile, MOH Deputy Director-General (Pharmaceutical Services) Dr Azuana Ramli called for a paradigm shift in how healthcare value is measured, framing it as a strategic investment rather than a cost to be controlled.

"When we treat patients effectively, we are enabling people to return to work, support their families, participate in society and contribute to national development," she said, adding that the adoption of a societal perspective should complement high-burden areas such as rare diseases, oncology and vaccines.

PhAMA President Kam Ai Teng said integrating broader societal perspectives into Malaysia's HTA landscape aims to enhance, rather than replace the robust clinical and economic evidence currently utilised.

"When the patients are unable to work due to illness, when caregivers have to step away from employment to support loved ones these are real impacts that affect society every day," she said, highlighting PhAMA's ongoing commitment to communicating healthcare innovation through its unified platform message, "Where Science Meets Hope".

PhAMA Vice President Deepti Saraf said advancing value-based healthcare requires collective effort by all stakeholdes to centre healthcare funding decisions on outcomes that matter most to patient lives and national growth.

Established in 1972, PhAMA represents 38 member companies, the majority of which are global biopharmaceutical companies and provides professional and technical input to stakeholders, including the government on healthcare-related matters.

-- BERNAMA