Alarming rise in number of diabetics in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, 26 March 2019:

An alarming seven million adults, both diagnosed and undiagnosed, are estimated to be affected by diabetes in Malaysia by 2025, a worrying trend that will see diabetes prevalence of 31.3% for adults aged 18 years and above.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said some 3.6 million Malaysians are currently suffering from the disease – the highest rate of incidence in Asia and one of the highest in the world.

“This exponential increase is significantly within type two diabetes, which is largely the result of excess body weight and physical inactivity,” he said when officiating the 3rd Cambridge-Oxford Sunway Biomedical Symposium titled ‘Diabetes: Disarming the Silent Killer’ here, today.

He said the government is giving serious attention to this exponential increase, as it is becoming a major economic burden on the health-care system and national economy.

Although Malaysia has a parallel public and private system, Dr Dzulkefly said the majority of treatment for chronic diseases is provided by the public health system heavily subsidised by the government.

“The impact of diabetes on society is substantial as it can impose a large economic burden on people with diabetes and their families in terms of out-pocket medical bills, loss of family income associated with disability and premature death and caring for disabled members.”

Dr Dzulkefly said the cost of diabetes to the nation is significant and a macro-economic study done in 2011 showed the cost at approximately RM2 billion, potentially representing 13% of the healthcare budget for the year 2011.

“This represents the cost of treating diabetes itself and also that of its complications. The sensitivity analysis reflects that this national cost could be as high as RM3.52 billion, if societal costs were included, this cost would be even higher.”

The one-day programme held at Sunway Medical Centre here brings together world-renowned specialists to discuss the latest trends and developments in acute/general medicine through a blend plenary lectures and breakout workshops on a wide range of topics.

Separately, the Health Ministry plans to implement the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system in stages to all hospitals and clinics throughout the country within the next three years, said Dr Dzulkefly.

He said 25% of 145 hospitals under the ministry had to date used the information technology system, including the EMR, to treat patients.

“In line with developments in medical technology, the ministry has implemented digital or electronic methods of recording patients’ information in several hospitals and health clinics…the government is working to be on par with the medical technology in hospitals in neighbouring countries and in the region.

“With the EMR, the process of sharing and transferring patients’ information will be easier…the information is not cut off and will move with the patient when he is treated in any of our clinics or hospitals,” he said during the Ministers’ Question Time at the Dewan Rakyat today.

Dr Dzulkefly was replying to a question from Datuk Dr Hasan Bahrom (PH-Tampin) who asked if the ministry planned to use the digital or electronic mode of recording patients’ information like in neighbouring countries such as Singapore and Thailand, so that the public can access their information at any health facility in the country.

He added that a working paper on the EMR had been completed.

– Bernama