Kuala Lumpur (VNA) - Malaysia is advancing rural healthcare by integrating e-health services into National Information Dissemination Centres (NaDIs), aiming to narrow the gap between urban and remote medical access.
With support from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), over 700 rural areas will benefit from services such as telehealth and drone-based medicine delivery. Originally designed for internet access, NaDIs are being repurposed as local hubs for health consultations and screenings.
This initiative enables patients in remote areas to receive medical care without traveling long distances. Teleconsultations, real-time monitoring, and electronic health records are being introduced, with a focus on underserved regions such as Sabah and Sarawak.
Pilot trials include drone delivery of medications from NaDIs to nearby clinics. Though promising, this system requires further coordination and regulatory review.
Internet infrastructure is being upgraded at NaDIs, with some centres moving from 100Mbps to 1Gbps, ensuring smoother consultations and secure data transmission. Staff training is also underway, jointly led by the Ministries of Health and Communications.
The pilot phase is being monitored before wider implementation, with hopes of reducing long-standing healthcare disparities and strengthening public health delivery through digital innovation./.
