By Yasmin Ramlan
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — Selangor has established itself as a prime destination for the healthcare industry in Malaysia and the Asean region, said state executive councillor for public health and environment Jamaliah Jamaluddin.
She said this was due to several aspects, such as providing accredited healthcare facilities of international standards.
“This (also) includes opportunities for high-quality investors to take advantage of the Asean market and opportunities for the silver-haired economy, as many real estate developers in Selangor are embarking on projects that offer world-class retirement facilities,” she said in her opening remarks at the Selangor International Healthcare Conference (SIHC) 2023 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, here, today.
Held in conjunction with the Selangor International Business Summit (SIBS) 2023, Jamaliah said that the SIHC 2023 will touch on the importance of precision health, highlighting its potential to improve the health of individuals and populations based on the needs of each person.
She said by considering individual differences, the approach could help to identify and address health risks early on, prevent diseases from developing, and improve the effectiveness of treatments.
“Precision health is a new approach to healthcare that takes into account individual differences in genetics, environment, and lifestyle.
“In other words, it takes a more personalised approach than the conventional one,” she said.
Jamaliah said that although it is a new field, precision health has the potential to revolutionise healthcare and is likely to play an increasingly important role in improving the health of individuals and populations with technological developments.
She also pointed out the challenges faced in the healthcare industry at the national level, such as the ageing population and its demand for healthcare services, the rise of chronic diseases and quality of care and access.
“Thus, I am glad that the SIHC this year is also focusing on precision healthcare, which is about the future of healthcare. I do hope that we can take this objectively and help develop more comprehensive policies either at the federal or state level,” she added.
