I got good words from my former colleague of Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Academy, Loh who's comfortably retired in Penang that our Founding Convener of Sejahtera Leadership Initiative, Professor Emeritus Professor Tan Sri Dato' Dzulkifli Abdul Razak was honored with the 2026 Dr. Wu Lien-Teh Award for Leadership in Public Health at Penang Institute. In accepting the well deserved award, Tan Sri Dzul delivered a thought provoking public lecture titled “Stepwise Approach towards Sustainable Public Healthcare” that challenged the conventional thinking in healthcare, leadership and values education.
What does it really take to build sustainable public healthcare?
Tan Sri Dzul offered a clear answer: start with people - not systems, not technology, and certainly not silos. At the heart of his message was a simple but powerful shift: “It is no longer about livelihood. It is about life.” Instead, he proposed a stepwise approach anchored on three key transformations: “From silos to systems; From knowledge to lived experience; and, From technology-driven to human-centered care.” He introduced the idea of moving steadily beyond the traditional “3M” model - manpower, mindset, machine - towards a more impact meaningful “3H” framework: humanity, heart & high-touch.
Tan Sri Dzul also highlighted the concept of Sejahtera - a holistic vision of well-being that integrates physical, emotional, social, and spiritual health - as a foundation of sustainable healthcare. He stressed that sustainable public healthcare requires a shift towards values-driven environments grounded in real empathy, trust & shared responsibility. He called for stronger public awareness, ethical regulation, and early preventive action, particularly among youth.
I understand, the Dr. Wu Lien-Teh Award for Leadership Public Health is established in March 2022 to recognize exemplary leaders and their outstanding contributions to the field of public health. Their passion and determination to make a difference for mankind. Their achievements continue to inspire others. (wulientehsociety.org)
Tan Sri Dzul is a distinguished Malaysian academician, pharmacist, and global leader in public health, higher education & sustainable development goals. (dzulrazak@gmail.com)
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