MOH, WHO to continue multilateral mutual relationship - Dr Zaliha

She said both sides agreed on the need to strengthen the existing cooperation, particularly in digital health, healthcare reforms and financing as well as communicable disease management.

"WHO can continue to provide technical assistance to boost in-country capacities as well as opportunities to highlight Malaysia's leadership role in regional and global health issues.

"This is also aimed at raising awareness of the urgent actions needed to keep the population healthy while ensuring sustainable healthcare in the long run," she said on a Facebook post today.

Yesterday, Dr Zaliha received a courtesy call from WHO Representative and Head of the WHO Country Office to Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore based in Kuala Lumpur, Dr Rabindra Abeyasinghe.

During the meeting, Dr Zaliha said she stressed that Malaysia is committed to reducing diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs), addressing the double burden of malnutrition and elevating nutritional status.

"The ministry is also concerned regarding global health and the management of NCDs through various community-based programmes," she said.

She said the ministry is focusing on developing a Health White Paper, a collective statement of intent on how the health system can become more sustainable and resilient through the whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.

Meanwhile, Dr Zaliha said Malaysia will participate in the upcoming 152nd WHO Executive Board (EB) Meeting, as the First Vice-Chair and the meeting will convene from the Jan 30 until Feb 7 in Geneva, Switzerland.

"Malaysia shall propose a draft resolution on Behavioral Science for Better Health which signifies Malaysia's intent on being at the forefront of global health architecture", she said.