Zaliha: Health White Paper boosts reforms
The Health White Paper approved by Parliament on June 15 will boost health reforms, especially in improving health promotion and disease prevention.
Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the reform included improvements aimed at reorienting the health ecosystem so that health promotion and disease prevention could be integrated in policies, guidelines, practices and daily lives.
“Among the strategies in this White Paper is strengthening public health functions, and improving intersector collaboration and coordination for health.
“It also provides incentives for pro-health practices and behaviours.”
She said this at the Perlis Health Department’s Healthy Health Belongs to All carnival held in conjunction with the sultan of Perlis’ 80th birthday celebration here yesterday.
Zaliha said 2023 marked the second phase of the Healthy Malaysia National Agenda (ANMS).
The first phase was from 2020 to 2022.
“AMNS focuses on planning, dealing with strategic partners, the formation of strategic plans and the preparation of policy papers.”
In the the second phase, it will be streamlined with several directions and initiatives.”
She said it would include policies and financial implications for the long term to achieve the goal of making Malaysians healthy and prosperous via the cultivation of healthy living and the sustainability of the environment that supported healthy living.
“In addition to organising a health carnival like the one held today (yesterday), the Health Ministry is always exploring new ideas and approaches to help people achieve a ‘healthy level of health’ through promotional messages and health education.
“To achieve that, campaigns are held under Core 1 of ANMS, which is ‘Strengthening the Promotion of Healthy Living Culture’ via social media, conventional media, as well as print and digital media.”
She cited the Perlis Health Department’s efforts in using Facebook to convey health messages to the people.
Earlier, she accompanied Regent of Perlis Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail and Raja Puan Muda of Perlis Tuanku Lailatul Shahreen Akashah Khalil in officiating the carnival.
Present were Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli and Health director-general Datuk Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan, Perlis Health Committee chairman Megat Hashirat Hassan.