He said the number is still not enough to meet the growing demand, hence the Ministry of Health (MOH) is taking a cluster hospital approach to expand access to oncology services.

“So far, we have 184 oncologists nationwide based on 2025 data, which is an increase of 60% compared to 2019. Of that number, 65 serve under the Ministry of Health, 107 in the private sector while the rest are still in training.

“Yes, we are facing a shortage of oncologists. The ideal ratio we are targeting has not yet been achieved. That is why I am emphasising a cluster-based approach where specialists in major hospitals can support district hospitals or facilities that do not have permanent specialists,” he said.

He told the media after officiating the World Cancer Day 2026 programme at Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka here on Wednesday.

Dzulkefly said cancer remained the third highest cause of death in Malaysia with new cases remaining at a stable rate of around 40,000 per year.

He said that although the figure showed a flat trend, his ministry would continue to intensify early screening and prevention efforts, especially for breast, colorectal, lung and prostate cancer.

Quoting data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), Dzulkefly said the agency’s data showed that cancer contributed 14.3% of all deaths in 2024, up from 13.8% in 2023.

To address the access gap, especially among the B40 (Bottom 40% income group) community and rural residents, Dzulkefly said the programme Cancer Heroes was launched on Wednesday using a “closer to home” approach to expand early screening and treatment.

He said the initiative, implemented in collaboration with SBS Nexus and the National Cancer Society of Malaysia, was a paradigm shift involving the patronage of the Royal Family covering six major types of cancer in Malaysia, namely breast, colorectal, lung, cervical, genitourinary and childhood cancer.

Dzulkefly said the relevant programme was also supported through strategic collaborations with 13 non-governmental organisations to strengthen prevention, disease control and the delivery of integrated support services to patients.

“To address the burden of cancer, the ministry will focus on four main thrusts, namely prevention, promotion, advocacy and screening, with the aim of ensuring early detection and timely treatment, including through the Cancer Heroes programme,” he said.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said during the same period this year, 21 deaths were recorded, compared to 65 deaths in the same period in 2024.

“This reduction is not a ticket for the public to be complacent, especially since globally, the rise in dengue cases is showing a deeply worrying trend,” he said in his speech at the national level Gotong-Royong Mega Perangi Aedes 1.0 programme (Aedes prevention clean-up) in conjunction with Asean Dengue Day 2025 at the Seri Kota public housing in Bandar Tun Razak, here today.

Also present at the event were Bandar Tun Razak MP and the wife of the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, and Health Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Suriani Ahmad.

Dzulkefly said globally, the World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics showed dengue cases surged from 505,430 cases in 2000 to 14.3 million cases in 2024, an increase of more than 28 times.

He said WHO statistics also showed that the number of dengue-related deaths worldwide rose from 960 in 2000 to 9,508 in 2024, representing nearly a tenfold increase over the past 25 years.

To curb dengue in Malaysia, he said various efforts would continue to be implemented under a whole-of-nation approach to ensure the public had a high level of awareness regarding environmental cleanliness and embraced dengue prevention practices as part of their daily routine.

“This includes search-and-destroy activities to eliminate Aedes mosquito breeding grounds inside and outside the home by spending at least 10 minutes each week, and making the One Hour Malaysia Clean Up initiative a regular monthly activity.

“Members of the public must also seek immediate medical attention at nearby health facilities if they experience fever or other dengue symptoms,” he added.

The gotong-royong (community clean-up) programme was held with the cooperation of residents of Seri Kota public housing in Bandar Tun Razak, volunteers from the Communication for Behavioural Impact (Combi) team, and staff from the Bandar Tun Razak Member of Parliament’s office.

Source — Bernama

Between Feb 17 and May 18 this year, a total of 8,246 individuals were vaccinated, including 1,711 with comorbidities or weakened immune systems and 125 healthcare workers.

In a written response to theSun, the ministry said while Malaysia is no longer pushing mass vaccinations, efforts are still being directed toward protecting vulnerable groups from severe Covid-19 infections.

“Efforts remain active, as shown by recent weekly data where over 8,000 individuals, including many from high-risk categories, received vaccinations,” the ministry stated.

“This ensures ongoing safeguarding of those most susceptible in the community.”

It also clarified that there are no plans to roll out a new booster dose but stressed that Covid-19 vaccines are still available and recommended for high-risk individuals.

The Health Ministry also said the Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre monitors media and public reports of potential outbreaks and verifies them before including them in official data.

“Risk communication campaigns via MySejahtera and social media platforms are ongoing, aimed at countering misinformation and keeping the public informed about new developments,“ it added.

Neighbouring countries such as Thailand and Singapore have recently seen a spike in Covid-19 cases, driven by the emergence of more infectious subvariants linked to the Omicron strain.

Between May 25 and 30, Thailand reported 65,880 new infections and three fatalities. In Singapore, estimated cases rose to 14,200 between April 27 and May 3, up from 11,100 the previous week, with 133 individuals requiring hospitalisation.

In Malaysia, Malacca saw a notable rise in infections, with a 20% increase in cases during Epidemiological Week 23 (June 1–7), recording 93 new infections.

Amid these rising cases, theSun spoke to Malaysian Medical Association president Datuk Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira, who expressed concern over a shortage of healthcare personnel, warning that it could affect the quality and timeliness of patient care.

“Covid-19 still poses a serious risk, especially among the vulnerable. We must stay vigilant,” he said.

“We are confident that the Health Ministry and its agencies are taking appropriate steps to respond swiftly if cases rise again.”

On May 29, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad reported a 72% surge in Covid-19 cases during Epidemiological Week 21 (May 18–24), with 1,971 infections recorded – up from 1,145 the previous week.

“The Health Ministry continues to enhance Covid-19 surveillance to ensure early detection and rapid response to any increase in cases,” he stated in a post on X.

In a follow-up update on June 4, Dzulkefly revealed that the JN.1 subvariant is currently the most prevalent strain in Malaysia, accounting for 17% of detected cases.

Other notable variants include XEC (7.9%), KP.3 (5.2%), and both KP.3.1.1 and LB.1 at 3.2% each.

While the World Health Organisation has assessed the global risk from JN.1 as low, Dzulkefly cautioned that its high transmissibility could still lead to a rise in cases, particularly during colder seasons or in populations with low immunity.

The Health Ministry consistently advises high-risk groups to stay updated with their vaccinations to reduce the risk of severe illness. – Amirul
Source: TheSun

Related: KL Wellness City Commits Funds to Tackle Nursing Shortage in Malaysia

At an event, a significant partnership worth RM25 million toward nursing education was announced between KL Wellness City and six colleges and universities, namely, MAIWP International University College (UCMI), International Medical College (IMC), International Medical University (IMU), Adventist College of Nursing & Health Sciences, Lincoln University College (LUC), and the Oriental Nilam College. This collaboration aims to alleviate the nursing shortage and ensure adequate healthcare staffing for Malaysia’s future needs.

Photo credit: US Embassy KL/Wikipedia

The Ministry of Health (MOH) is looking into the potential implementation of designated smoking zones outside dining establishments, particularly those constrained by limited space.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad highlighted the necessity for such measures, citing difficulties in adhering to the current three-meter distancing mandate in compact eateries. Acknowledging the proximity of these premises to others, Dr. Ahmad emphasized the need for pragmatic solutions.

He underscored the MOH’s examination of established practices in advanced nations like Singapore, Japan, and Hong Kong, where designated smoking areas have been successfully integrated. Dr. Ahmad affirmed the ministry’s commitment to exploring the establishment of designated zones or specific locations to address this issue.

Source: Bernama

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