IPOH: With the field of medicine constantly evolving at a rapid rate, future health care professionals need to keep abreast with these changes, says Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni.
The Deputy Health Minister said this was to ensure that the aim to make healthcare better, simpler, smarter, faster, safer and cheaper is realised.
He said investing in the continuous education and training of healthcare professionals would equip them with the skills needed to navigate the evolving health landscape.
“In this context, I would like to emphasise three key areas where we must focus our efforts, which include innovation and technology, workforce development, and community engagement.
“Leveraging advancements in digital health, such as telemedicine and artificial intelligence, can greatly improve the accessibility, efficiency, and quality of primary health care,” he said in his speech after opening the 13th Asean and 10th Perak Health Congress on Primary Health Care at a hotel here Friday (July 12).
With the theme “Embracing New Horizons in Primary Health Care,” over 300 participants nationwide, as well as from several neighbouring countries participated in the three-day congress jointly organised by the Perak Medical Practitioners Society, Perak Association of Public Health Physicians and Family Medicine Specialists Association of Perak, with the collaboration of the Health Ministry.
Lukanisman said embracing new horizons meant integrating innovative approaches, harnessing technology, and fostering collaboration across borders to build a more robust primary health care framework
He said in addition, engaging communities in health promotion, disease prevention, and health literacy initiatives is crucial for building trust, and creating an inclusive and responsive healthcare system that addresses the unique needs of our diverse population.
He said it is essential to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among Asean countries.
“By learning from each other’s experiences, and best practices, we can collectively strengthen our primary healthcare system and achieve better health outcomes for all,” he added.