Innovation a necessity now, minister tells health industry

KUALA LUMPUR: Health industry players have been urged to adopt more innovation and technology into their work, as the government looks into providing better healthcare to the rakyat at a much lower cost.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (pix) said this was pertinent as the use of technology, such as in diagnostic and imaging procedures, could assist medical professionals in diagnosing conditions that were previously difficult and time-consuming to diagnose.
"Be it radical or incremental, innovation is an integral part of medicine today, contributing to increased hospital efficiency, improved quality and reduced cost.
"Innovation is no longer a novelty, it is a necessity," he said when opening KPJ's 21st Annual Healthcare Conference, here, today.
Dzulkefly argued that the medical fraternity today rely more on devices than ever before, driven by the increased sophistication of remote clinical technology, mobile applications and new electronic devices, among others.
"In the next 10 years, technological developments such as robotics and automation will radically transform the job market and nature of work even more.
"New drugs, diagnostic and therapeutic services developed from medical research will lead to a breakthrough in treatment for many diseases," he added.
Dzulkefly said innovation, be it the smaller ones or more radical transformations, are equally important and could impact the delivery of care in the country.
He added that the ministry would continue to engage and collaborate with industry players from both the public and private sectors of healthcare to face industry transitions together.
"These 'Smart Public-Private Partnerships' (PPPs) entail the sharing of resources and expertise, which would ultimately provide a win-win situation for both parties," he said.