PAPAR: The Ministry of Communications, through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), is collaborating with the Ministry of Health (MOH) to provide e-health services at National Information Dissemination Centres (Nadi), particularly at over 700 centres located in rural areas nationwide.
Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said MCMC and MOH are exploring several digital health initiatives, including telehealth services and the use of drone technology to deliver medications from selected Nadi centres to nearby health clinics, depending on location suitability.
“This collaboration has begun here, and we aim to expand it to all Nadi centres across the country. Our goal is to provide telehealth services to help ease the burden on people living in remote areas.
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.defineSlot('/22826383987/dailyexpress_inline', [1, 1], 'gpt-passback').addService(googletag.pubads());googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('gpt-passback');});“With high-speed internet available at Nadi centres, these e-health services can be delivered efficiently through the Nadi-health clinic network. This will allow patients to undergo health screenings without physically visiting the clinics.”
Fahmi said this to reporters after attending the Community Day at Nadi Kampung Langkuas Kinarut, Wednesday, which was also attended by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
Also present were Communications Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa and MOH Secretary-General Datuk Seri Suriani Ahmad.
Elaborating on the initiative, Fahmi noted that the use of drone technology for medication delivery to rural health clinics is still in its pilot phase.
“A few months ago, the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) witnessed a drone-based medicine delivery demonstration at a Nadi centre in Tawau.
“Going forward, we will hold discussions to map out the connectivity between NADI centres and health clinics. This process may be complex as it involves coordination with multiple agencies, especially concerning drone operations,” he said.
