HSA 2027 To Widen Malaysia's Access To Healthcare Tech, Regional Network - Hanifah Hajar

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 23 (Bernama) -- Health Summit Asia (HSA) 2027 is set to give Malaysia greater exposure to healthcare technologies and solutions that can strengthen delivery, while connecting the country with the wider regional health ecosystem.

Deputy Health Minister Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib said such exposure could help Malaysia pinpoint technologies better suited to local needs, particularly as healthcare delivery must serve not only large urban populations but also communities beyond major cities.

"Our challenge is that we not only have larger populations in the cities, but we also need to look at the suburbs and rural areas," she told a press conference after the summit’s soft launch here today.

Hanifah Hajar also hoped that technology would eventually deliver more integrated systems, able to run several basic medical checks in a single device rather than across multiple pieces of equipment.

She said that would also help reduce costs by letting technology take over routine tasks, freeing medical personnel to focus on more important aspects of healthcare such as analysing and diagnosing properly, instead of feeling rushed due to heavy patient load.

Earlier in her keynote address, Hanifah Hajar said HSA 2027 aligned closely with the Health Ministry's (MOH) priorities, with its theme "One Ecosystem. One Pulse. Shaping the Future of Health Economy" reflecting the need for collaboration across the healthcare sector.

“Progress can no longer happen in silos. It requires concerted and collaborative effort across government, medical professionals, industry leaders, researchers and international partners,” she said.

She said prevention and primary care remain central to the ministry's agenda, with non-communicable diseases still posing a serious challenge.

She cited the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2023, which found that 15.6 per cent of Malaysian adults had diabetes, 29.2 per cent had hypertension, and 54.4 per cent were overweight or obese.

Hanifah Hajar said healthcare system reform would also require partnerships spanning technology, pharmaceuticals, life sciences and private healthcare delivery.

She said the RM46.5 billion allocation to MOH under Budget 2026 demonstrated the government's continued commitment to strengthening healthcare access and infrastructure.

Scheduled for May 5 to 7, 2027, at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, HSA 2027 will introduce Market Access Clinics to help international and regional delegates develop structured market-entry plans for Malaysia and Asia, focused on regulation, hospital adoption and distribution partnerships.

Organised by Qube Integrated Malaysia (Qube) with the support of MOH, the summit will feature a two-day conference, trade exhibition, Market Access Clinics, Industry Spotlight and business-to-business (B2B) meetings.

Meanwhile, Qube deputy managing director Kevin Teo, in his welcoming remarks, said HSA 2027 would focus on deepening regional engagement, strengthening cross-sector collaboration and creating meaningful pathways between businesses, markets and opportunities.

“HSA 2027 will serve as Asia’s premier business and market-intelligence platform to convert market shifts into actionable economic and clinical outcomes,” he said, adding that it aims to attract 120 exhibitors from 10 countries.

The areas covered by the summit will include digital health and technology, medical devices and consumables, pharmaceutical innovation, nutrition and nutraceuticals, as well as health policy and regulation.

Teo said the Market Access Clinics would provide focused small-group sessions on regulatory pathways, hospital adoption and distributor selection to help companies understand the practical steps involved in entering the Malaysian healthcare market.

“HSA 2027 will deliver a complete journey from discovering solutions and exchanging knowledge to meeting the right business partners, understanding market requirements, and identifying practical pathways into new markets,” he added.

-- BERNAMA