The Malaysian government will fully cover the cost of postal delivery for medicines starting October 1, a move expected to benefit approximately 80,000 patients each month. Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil announced that the initiative, which previously required patients to pay for delivery, will be funded through a RM5 million allocation managed by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) in collaboration with the Health Ministry.
Fahmi made the announcement following a visit to the National Digital Health Ecosystem and Connectivity Driver (Persada) project at the Padang Besar Health Clinic in Perlis on September 26. The Postal Medicine Delivery Programme (UMP), which is part of the government’s broader efforts to enhance healthcare accessibility, aims to ease the financial burden on patients who receive medication by mail.
The Persada system, piloted in Perlis for the past four months, has demonstrated positive results in reducing patient waiting times. Data shows that over 86% of patients were able to consult a doctor within 60 minutes, with nearly 63% doing so in under half an hour. Fahmi noted that the electronic medical record system has since served more than 200,000 patients in Perlis.
One key benefit of Persada is improved efficiency for medical staff. Doctors no longer need to wait for physical medical records, as patient information is securely stored in cloud-based systems accessible in real time. “The system made their work easier and reduced the time spent waiting for patients’ medical records to reach them,” Fahmi said, emphasizing the enhanced security and ease of use for Health Ministry personnel.
Plans to expand Persada beyond Perlis are underway but will depend on infrastructure readiness, including adequate internet connectivity. The system requires a minimum connection speed of 100Mbps for optimal operation. Fahmi acknowledged that some states might face challenges related to connectivity but expressed confidence in the system’s broader applicability.
MCMC highlighted that the Persada initiative aligns with its goal of implementing a “One Individual, One Health Record” system to facilitate seamless health information sharing across healthcare facilities. This integration is expected to support continuity of care while reducing waiting times.
Additionally, MCMC has integrated telehealth services via 17 National Information Dissemination Centres (Nadi) in Perlis, allowing residents to access certain services such as health screenings without visiting physical clinics. Fahmi said efforts would continue to strengthen cooperation between Nadi centres and both urban and rural health clinics nationwide, further improving patients’ access to healthcare services.