KUALA LUMPUR: Sarawak is set to be among the first states in Malaysia to roll out a full digital transformation in its public healthcare system, with 142 health clinics scheduled to adopt the Cloud-Based Clinic Management System (CCMS) by December of this year.
A TVS news report stated that the initiative follows close collaboration between the Sarawak Government and the Ministry of Health (MOH), supported by a RM10-million allocation approved by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg for the provision of computer equipment and system implementation.
Deputy Health Minister, Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni, said the effort was part of the government’s vision to achieve the nationwide ‘One Individual, One Record’ target by 2029.
“Clinics such as KK Buntal, KK Santubong, KK Petra Jaya and KK Sibu Jaya have already begun using the system.
“This digitisation not only improves efficiency but also reduces waiting time and ensures continuity of patient care,” he said.
He was replying to a supplementary question from Batang Sadong Member of Parliament, Rodiyah Sapiee (GPS), during the Dewan Rakyat session today on MOH’s efforts to expedite healthcare digitalisation in Sabah and Sarawak, which face internet and infrastructure challenges.
Lukanisman explained that the cloud-based system could fully digitise a clinic in just three days, compared to the previous method which required three to six months.
The system also enables secure sharing of medical records across clinics and hospitals nationwide.
At the national level, MOH has been phasing in the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system, targeting 200 clinics by 2025 and 16 hospitals by 2026.
So far, 275 clinics, 78 dental clinics and 22 hospitals have fully adopted EMR.
“With EMR and CCMS in place, 70 per cent of patients can now see a medical officer within 30 minutes, while the remaining 30 per cent are attended to within 60 to 90 minutes. This shows clear improvements in service efficiency,” he added.
Under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), MOH has set a long-term goal to expand digitalisation to 588 more clinics and 112 hospitals by 2029, supported by a RM2-billion allocation.
Lukanisman stressed that cybersecurity and patient data protection remain top priorities, with a dedicated Health Digital Division established to assess risks and ensure compliance with government security standards.
“Countries like Singapore and Australia face similar challenges, and Malaysia is no exception.
“That is why we are taking careful steps to safeguard medical data, ensuring it remains protected and only accessible through authorised facilities nationwide,” he said.
