Strong Primary Care Key To Sustainable Healthcare System, Says Hanifah Hajar

KUALA LUMPUR, June 28 (Bernama) -- Strong primary care is essential to achieving better health outcomes and building a more sustainable healthcare system in Malaysia.

Deputy Health Minister Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib said hospitals alone could no longer shoulder the country’s growing healthcare demands, making collaboration among healthcare providers, academia and professional bodies increasingly important.

“Malaysia’s healthcare system must become more sustainable and more responsive to changing population needs.

“While our medical centres are pillars of excellence, hospitals alone cannot carry the full weight of healthcare demand,” she said in her keynote address at the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between IHH Healthcare Malaysia, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) and Monash University Malaysia.

She said the collaboration reflected a shared commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery through better coordination, professional development, research and patient-centred care.

Hanifah Hajar added that many Malaysians began their healthcare journey at community clinics, where general practitioners played a critical role in detecting health problems early and guiding patients towards appropriate treatment.

The deputy minister said Malaysia continued to face a growing burden of non-communicable diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, obesity, heart disease and cancer, all of which required long-term management and close cooperation between doctors, patients and families.

She also stressed the importance of improving communication with patients, saying healthcare progress should not be measured solely by technology or treatment outcomes but also by how reassured and supported patients feel throughout their healthcare journey.

“Patients value time. They value being listened to, receiving understandable explanations and knowing that their concerns are taken seriously,” she said.

Hanifah Hajar said communication between general practitioners (GPs) and specialists must be strengthened to ensure patients receive seamless care, with clear clinical information and guidance shared between healthcare providers.

On the MoU, she added that the partnership between IHH Healthcare Malaysia, MMA and Monash University Malaysia could support practical initiatives covering referral pathways, chronic disease management, continuing professional development, research and digital health, ultimately contributing to a more connected and compassionate healthcare system for the people.

-- BERNAMA