A 57 page policy docket, known as the Health White Paper, was issued in the Dewan Rakyat and focused on the increase in Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and the emergence of new infectious diseases and resurging infectious diseases.

The document highlighted the challenges faced by Malaysia’s healthcare system and stated that the main contributors to deaths were cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, cancer and diabetes.

Since these NCDs and chronic diseases were the main causes of deaths in Malaysia, the Ministry of Health has decided to create awareness of early diagnosis and an adherence to the prescribed treatment.

According to the Ministry of Health, most cases are not detected at an early stage and those from lower income groups and rural areas are likely to be more susceptible to having NCDs though those in urban settings are also now guilty of being indifferent.

The Ministry of Health in its Health White Paper estimates that 98 percent of the Malaysian adult population (those above the age of 21) has at least one NCD risk factor which is a cause for concern.

Malaysia also has the highest obesity prevalence in South East Asia and this is the main indication of NCD prevalence which has resulted in increasing treatment costs especially for cardiovascular and kidney diseases.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE