Lung diseases remain among the leading causes of hospitalization and death in Malaysia, with a significant portion of cases going undiagnosed, according to Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad. Speaking at the opening of the 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting of the NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Respiratory Health (Respire) in Kuala Lumpur, Dr Dzulkefly highlighted findings from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2023, which indicate that 6% of adults and up to 13% of children in the country suffer from asthma. Alarmingly, about one in three asthma cases remain undiagnosed, translating to more than 1.4 million adult and nearly 500,000 child asthma sufferers nationwide.
Dr Dzulkefly also noted the significant impact of other chronic respiratory conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and the ongoing challenge posed by tuberculosis, which recorded an incidence rate of 96 cases per 100,000 people in 2024. In response to these challenges, the government has initiated the Healthy Lung Initiative 2025-2030, aiming to provide integrated lung health care through 902 health clinics across the country by the end of 2026. This integrated approach encompasses health promotion, screening, smoking cessation programs, and referral pathways designed to deliver person-centered care.
To enhance early detection of lung diseases, the ministry is expanding the use of artificial intelligence-assisted chest X-ray screenings. One such effort is the LungShield Programme, a partnership among IHH Healthcare Malaysia, the Health Ministry, and the police force, which targets screening 10,000 traffic police personnel. Dr Dzulkefly emphasized the importance of evidence-based policy-making, supported by the establishment of Nalury, the National Lung Health Registry, which facilitates program monitoring and evaluation.
Addressing root causes of respiratory illness, the government is enforcing the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act and employing digital tools such as the Cik Era AI Companion to aid smoking cessation efforts. During the recent 17th Asean Health Ministers’ Meeting held in Kuala Lumpur, lung health was underscored as a key regional priority, with the meeting providing a platform to align global commitments with coordinated regional actions.
Dr Dzulkefly praised initiatives like Respire for their role in generating data to improve access to services, integrate new technologies, and promote equitable healthcare. He highlighted the value of low-cost, scalable clinical interventions tailored for low- and middle-income countries as essential innovations in addressing the burden of respiratory diseases. The four-day scientific meeting bringing together experts from Universiti Malaya and the University of Edinburgh underscores ongoing efforts to advance lung health research and policy coordination in the region.