Malaysia has emerged as a key global health leader following the adoption of a landmark resolution on integrated lung health at the 77th World Health Assembly (WHA), a milestone achievement aimed at transforming the global response to lung diseases.
The resolution, which calls for a coordinated approach to tackling lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, tuberculosis, and their shared risk factors such as air pollution and tobacco use, was spearheaded by Malaysia’s Ministry of Health. This marks a significant policy contribution from the Southeast Asian nation in shaping global health strategy.
Malaysia’s Minister of Health, Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, played a pivotal role in driving the proposal forward. Speaking at a special side event in Geneva co-hosted by Malaysia and the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), Dr Dzulkefly emphasized the resolution’s potential to reinforce Malaysia’s national policies on primary care strengthening, tobacco control, and clean air.
“This resolution strengthens the case for integrated services across diseases, and supports our push to reduce tobacco use, protect clean air, and detect lung conditions earlier within primary care,” said Dr Dzulkefly. “It reflects our commitment to health equity and regional leadership.”
The resolution is the result of a collaborative global effort, but it was Malaysia that led the design and negotiation process, with support from UICC and the World Health Organization (WHO). The Ministry of Health’s proactive role in drafting and promoting the resolution demonstrates Malaysia’s growing influence in global health diplomacy.
UICC, through its Lung Cancer Collaboration (LCC), worked alongside Malaysia to bring together governments, health experts, and civil society in support of the proposal. At the Geneva event, UICC CEO Cary Adams praised Malaysia’s leadership:
“Malaysia’s vision and political commitment have helped galvanize global action around lung health. This resolution connects the dots between various lung diseases and risk factors, creating the momentum we need for real change.”
The event, hosted at UICC’s Geneva offices, drew around 50 participants, including representatives from WHO, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), and key private sector partners. Discussions underscored the importance of early detection, tobacco control, primary care integration, and the urgent need to address air pollution—an often-overlooked risk factor that contributes to more deaths annually than tobacco.
Malaysia’s efforts were showcased alongside innovative examples from other nations. Australia’s soon-to-launch digital lung cancer screening programme and Egypt’s nationwide population screening initiative were spotlighted as models of scalable solutions.
With the resolution now formally adopted, the focus shifts to implementation. UICC and its partners, including AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, and MSD, called on countries to turn the resolution into national policies and programmes.
“Malaysia has set the tone for others to follow,” said Yannick Romero, UICC’s Senior Knowledge and Advocacy Manager. “We now need governments to localise this vision and act—starting with education, early diagnosis, and access to care.”
Malaysia is well-positioned to lead by example, leveraging its strong national tobacco control frameworks and increasing emphasis on clean air and primary care. The Ministry of Health’s commitment to integrating lung health into broader health system reforms makes it a regional model for others.
“The challenge now is ensuring the resolution doesn’t stay on paper,” said Michael Hartevelt of MSD. “We need champions like Malaysia to keep driving it forward, both at home and through global partnerships.”
Malaysia’s Role at a Glance:
- Lead proponent and co-author of the WHA resolution on integrated lung health.
- Co-hosted high-level event in Geneva with UICC.
- National policies already aligned with resolution goals, including tobacco control, clean air laws, and expanding access to early diagnosis.
- A model for low- and middle-income countries aiming to integrate lung health into primary care.
