Chang: The Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM)-led National Mission-Oriented Initiative (MOI) on Empowerment of Digital Healthcare will mobilise key stakeholders to transform Malaysia's healthcare ecosystem towards better outcomes for the people.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Datuk Chang Lih Kang stated that the initiative, one of seven national MOIs approved by the National Science Council, aims to consolidate fragmented digital projects by involving the government, healthcare providers, researchers, industry, and communities to achieve measurable national outcomes. These outcomes include improved continuity of care, earlier disease detection, more equitable access, and a more resilient health system.
Chang emphasized that the initiative would strengthen the Research, Development, Innovation, Commercialisation, and Economy (RDICE) continuum by aligning health needs with research priorities. This alignment would facilitate the validation of innovations in real-world settings, support their adoption and commercialization, and scale solutions contributing to national growth.
Speaking at the 2026 Dr Ranjeet Bhagwan Singh (RBS) Annual Memorial Forum and the announcement of the RBS Medical Research Grant, Chang noted that the Malaysia Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics (OHDSI) Chapter, an ASM collaboration with the Ministry of Health Malaysia and the National Institutes of Health, represents a crucial step towards creating a national collaborative platform. This chapter, integrated with the Malaysia Open Science Platform, supports the National MOI on the Empowerment of Digital Healthcare by promoting common data standards, enabling consistent, responsible, and meaningful health data analysis across institutions.
During the event, Dr Low Liang Ee of Monash University Malaysia was awarded the 2026 RBS Medical Research Grant for his project on 'Development of pH-sensitive Morphological Transformable Nanoparticles for Tumour-specific Accumulation, Prolonged Retention and Magnetic Hyperthermia Therapy'.
ASM president Datuk Dr Tengku Mohd Azzman Shariffadeen, also the Science, Technology and Innovation Advisor to the Prime Minister and the Nation, highlighted that the programme received 125 applications this year, with seven shortlisted. Each proposal was evaluated rigorously and transparently, based on scientific excellence, innovative approaches, and potential health and socioeconomic benefits for the nation.
Tengku Mohd Azzman further stated that this year's theme, 'Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled Healthcare for Smarter Solutions and Well-Being,' underscores the role of emerging and disruptive technologies in enhancing healthcare outcomes. AI offers significant possibilities, including early detection, precise medical-image analysis, accelerated drug discovery, enhanced population-health planning, and more efficient administrative processes.
Forum panellist Academician Datuk Dr Awang Bulgiba Awang Mahmud noted that while AI is effective in pattern identification within medical images, its findings should be clinically confirmed. He added that AI's potential lies in its ability to integrate diverse health data sources, including medical findings and genetic information, to highlight cases requiring further medical opinions, thus making a significant difference in healthcare delivery.