Malaysian Health Technology Assessment Section

Malaysian Health Technology Assessment Section Malaysian Health Technology Assessment Section (MaHTAS)
A section under Medical Development Division,
Ministry of Health, Malaysia

01/08/2026

Did you know? The World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health Malaysia recommend:

👶Initiate breastfeeding within the first hour after birth.
👶Exclusively breastfeed for the first 6 months of life. This means giving babies only breast milk, with no other food or drinks, including water, unless medically indicated.
👶Introduce appropriate complementary foods at 6 months of age, while continuing breastfeeding.
👶Continue breastfeeding until at least 2 years of age.

Breast milk is the ideal source of nutrition for infants. It provides all the nutrients a baby needs during the first 6 months of life, contains antibodies that help protect against infections, and supports healthy growth and brain development.

Every drop of breast milk is an investment in a healthier future for every child ❤️

01/08/2026

World Lung Cancer Day | 1 August

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. In Malaysia, it is the third most common cancer and has the lowest survival rate among major cancers. Approximately 85–90% of cases are non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

The emergence of immunotherapy has transformed the treatment of advanced NSCLC, particularly for patients with high PD-L1 expression.

To support evidence-informed healthcare decisions, MaHTAS conducted a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) on Immunotherapy for PD-L1 Positive Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Based on the available evidence, pembrolizumab, either as monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapy, is recommended as a standard first-line treatment for eligible patients with high PD-L1 expression non-squamous advanced NSCLC, while recognising the need for sustainable access to high-cost medicines.

Download full report here: https://mymahtas.moh.gov.my/index.php/docman-list/publications

HTA Course East Coast Zone28-30 July 2026Kuala TerengganuThe Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Course 2026 for East Coa...
31/07/2026

HTA Course East Coast Zone
28-30 July 2026
Kuala Terengganu

The Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Course 2026 for East Coast Region was successfully held at Tanjung Vista Hotel, Kuala Terengganu from 28–30 July 2026, organized by HTA Unit, Malaysian Health Technology Assessment Section (MaHTAS), Medical Development Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia.

The course brought together healthcare leaders including the Deputy State Health Directors, Hospital Directors, District Health Officers and state clinicians; key stakeholders from Terengganu, Kelantan, and Pahang State Health Departments, hospitals and district health offices.

Over three days, participants strengthened their knowledge and learning through interactive lectures, engaging discussions, and hands-on activities covering the fundamentals of HTA, its role and significance in healthcare decision making, the related work process and methodologies, evidence synthesis, the application of HTA in informing policy and resource allocation decision, economic evaluation in HTA, as well as skills in critically appraising scientific evidence from various study design.

This workshop reflects our continued commitment to strengthening HTA capacity across Malaysia and advancing a culture of evidence-informed policy and clinical decision-making. While HTA is recognised as a resource-intensive process, its value in supporting transparent, systematic, and evidence-based decisions is undeniable. The workshop highlighted the critical role of HTA in enabling policymakers, healthcare professionals, and stakeholders at all levels to make informed decisions that maximise health outcomes, optimise the use of limited resources, and promote equitable access to safe, effective, and high-value healthcare interventions.

Congratulations and our sincere appreciation goes to all engaging and attentive participants from the East Coast Region, to the speakers for sharing their expertise, and especially to HTA Unit team for the relentless effort in making this workshop a great success. Your hard work did not go unnoticed.
Advancing better health for Malaysia through evidence informed decision – together!





Happy Friday everyone!There really is no better feeling than reaching the end of the week knowing you've pushed through ...
31/07/2026

Happy Friday everyone!

There really is no better feeling than reaching the end of the week knowing you've pushed through challenges, learned something new, and made progress, no matter how small.

🌟 The Friday Mindset Reset

đź’–Acknowledge Your Wins: Take a quick second to look back at your week. You survived 100% of your tough days, solved tricky problems, and kept moving forward. Celebrate that!

💖Progress > Perfection: Growth isn't always about massive leaps. It’s the quiet, daily habits and the resilience to keep showing up that build real change over time.

đź’–Refuel and Recharge: Rest isn't a reward for working hard; it's a fundamental part of staying sharp and growing. Use this weekend to disconnect, laugh, and replenish your creative energy.

Carry that momentum into the weekend, give yourself credit for how far you’ve come, and keep aiming high!

Honoured for the opportunity to serve as a Temporary Advisor at the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO) Expert Me...
30/07/2026

Honoured for the opportunity to serve as a Temporary Advisor at the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO) Expert Meeting on Shaping the Future of the Research and Development Ecosystem for Public Health in the Western Pacific, held in Manila, Philippines, on 22–23 July 2026.

MaHTAS, the only representative from a HTA agency, it was a privilege to speak during the session “Amplifying Impact: Regional Coordination beyond Financing”, where Dr. Syaqirah Akmal shared perspectives on “The Role of Proactive Health Technology Assessment (HTA) in Addressing Inefficiencies in R&D Investments.” The discussion included how proactive HTA- early dialogue, scientific advice and horizon scanning can help inform research priorities, reduce inefficiencies in R&D investments, and support the development of innovations that are more likely to improve population health. These functions are currently being conducted by two units within MaHTAS; Horizon Scanning Unit & Health Industry Development Unit.

Throughout the meeting, the discussions went beyond research itself. Country members explored how to work together to ensure that promising innovations do not remain in laboratories but are translated into policies, programmes and health technologies that truly benefit communities. From financing and governance to regulation, implementation and the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI), the meeting reinforced that collaboration across countries and disciplines is essential to building a stronger and more equitable R&D ecosystem for the Western Pacific.




BENGKEL PEMBANGUNAN KAPASITI EKOSISTEM HOSPITAL HAB TEKNOLOGI KESIHATAN27 July 2026Auditorium Multimedia, Hospital Cyber...
29/07/2026

BENGKEL PEMBANGUNAN KAPASITI EKOSISTEM HOSPITAL HAB TEKNOLOGI KESIHATAN
27 July 2026
Auditorium Multimedia, Hospital Cyberjaya

MaHTAS successfully organised a capacity building workshop for the Health Tech Hub hospital ecosystem, to strengthen the operational competencies of Health Tech Hub hospitals and the Medical Development Division. The initiative focuses on streamlining research and development (R&D) advances and accelerating healthcare innovations into the national healthcare system.
The session brought together key hospital leadership and representatives from the Medical Development Division, MaHTAS, and nine designated Health Tech Hub hospitals:

• Hospital Tunku Azizah
• National Cancer Institute (NCI)
• Hospital Putrajaya
• Hospital Slim River
• Hospital Rembau
• Hospital Rehabilitasi Cheras
• Hospital Tuanku Permaisuri Norashikin, Kajang
• Hospital Cyberjaya
• Hospital Bera

Throughout the workshop, experts shared frameworks to bridge the gap between initial research and practical commercial deployment:

▪️Commercialisation Pathways: Dr. Hazwan, representative from the Malaysian Research Accelerator for Technology & Innovation (MRANTI) outlined strategic commercialisation pathways tailored for healthcare innovations.

▪️Global Innovation Insights: Ms. Madihah, and Mr. Naqkhaie Jaznin, representatives from MRANTI shared key takeaways and institutional insights gathered from international delegation visits to premier health innovation hubs in the United Kingdom and Spain.

▪️Commercialisation in MOH, Intellectual Property & IP Guidelines: Mr. Zulhilmi from the National Institutes of Health (NIH – IMR) detailed the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) Intellectual Property Commercialisation Guidelines alongside strategic commercialisation roadmaps for MOH.

▪️Artificial Intelligence in Medicine: Experts from DHRI, Dr. Mohan highlighted pragmatic approaches to transition AI-driven research ideas into practical implementations.

The workshop served as an interactive platform for healthcare leadership to identify high-impact ideas and map out transition pathways toward commercialisation and market readiness. By driving R&D outcomes into commercialised solutions, the initiative aims continuously improve public healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.



CPG Development Workshop for the Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Malaysia (OGSM)OGSM Office, Kuala Lumpur17 Ju...
29/07/2026

CPG Development Workshop for the Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Malaysia (OGSM)
OGSM Office, Kuala Lumpur
17 July 2026

MaHTAS was honoured to be invited by the Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Malaysia (OGSM) to deliver a Systematic Review Workshop for Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) Development in support of the updating of the Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Management of Menopause and Mid-life Crisis (Second Edition).

The workshop provided participants with practical knowledge and hands-on guidance on key aspects of evidence-based guideline development, including:
• Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM)
• The CPG development work process
• Protocol development
• The GRADE approach for assessing the certainty of evidence and strength of recommendations
• The AGREE II instrument for guideline quality appraisal

The workshop brought together a multidisciplinary group of participants, including obstetrics and gynaecology specialists, Cochrane reviewers and clinical psychologists, fostering meaningful discussions and collaborative learning to strengthen evidence-based clinical practice.

MaHTAS extends its sincere appreciation to OGSM for the invitation and the opportunity to contribute to this important initiative. We hope the knowledge and skills gained during the workshop will benefit all participants and support the successful development of the Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Management of Menopause and Mid-life Crisis (Second Edition), ultimately enhancing the quality of care for women across Malaysia.

TRAINING PROGRAMMESeries 1: Intermediate Statistics for HTA Reviewers: Interpretation and Evidence SynthesisOn 22–23 Jul...
24/07/2026

TRAINING PROGRAMME

Series 1: Intermediate Statistics for HTA Reviewers: Interpretation and Evidence Synthesis

On 22–23 July 2026, MaHTAS successfully organised the Intermediate Statistics for HTA Reviewers: Interpretation and Evidence Synthesis Course at Seminar Room 1, Kompleks Setia Perdana, Putrajaya. The course was delivered by Dr. Tengku Muhammad Hanis bin Tengku Mokhtar, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA).

The two-day course aimed to strengthen participants' competencies in interpreting, critically appraising and synthesising statistical findings and quantitative evidence from secondary data to support the development of high-quality, evidence-based reports. Through interactive lectures and hands-on group activities, participants explored a range of topics, including inferential statistics, statistical tests, regression analysis, critical appraisal and evidence synthesis.

The course brought together officers from MaHTAS, Information Specialists and officers from other sections within the Medical Development Division. The enthusiastic participation, engaging discussions and collaborative learning throughout the course reflected the participants' commitment to strengthening their analytical skills and advancing evidence-informed decision-making within the Ministry of Health Malaysia.

Building on this momentum, MaHTAS looks forward to Series 2, where participants will have the opportunity to further enhance their knowledge and practical skills in statistical interpretation and evidence synthesis. Stay tuned for more updates!

Advanced Data Analysis Workshop📅 20–22 July 2026📍 National Institutes of Health (NIH), SelangorMaHTAS officers were hono...
23/07/2026

Advanced Data Analysis Workshop
📅 20–22 July 2026
đź“Ť National Institutes of Health (NIH), Selangor

MaHTAS officers were honoured to participate in the Advanced Data Analysis Workshop, held from 20 to 22 July 2026 at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Selangor.

The workshop was organised by the Centre for Health Outcomes Research (CHOR), Institute for Health Systems Research (IHSR) and featured Professor Dr. Karuthan Chinna from International Medical University (IMU) as the invited speaker.

The three-day workshop aimed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills to select and perform appropriate statistical analyses based on their research objectives and intended outcomes. Through a series of interactive lectures and practical sessions, participants were introduced to a range of statistical methods tailored to different types of variables using the IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).

The workshop provided a valuable platform for participants to strengthen their analytical capabilities, deepen their understanding of advanced statistical analysis and enhance their capacity to conduct high-quality, evidence-based research. The knowledge and skills gained will further support MaHTAS officers in critically interpreting statistical analyses, drawing sound evidence-based conclusions and, formulating appropriate recommendations to inform health technology assessment and healthcare decision-making.

MaHTAS extends its sincere appreciation to CHOR, IHSR and Professor Dr. Karuthan Chinna for delivering an insightful and enriching learning experience. We look forward to applying the knowledge gained to further strengthen evidence-based healthcare in Malaysia.

Are you a Registered Pharmacist passionate about Health Technology Assessment (HTA), Health Economics, and value-based d...
17/07/2026

Are you a Registered Pharmacist passionate about Health Technology Assessment (HTA), Health Economics, and value-based decision-making?

The Malaysian Health Technology Assessment Section (MaHTAS) is looking for talented individuals to join our dynamic team.

Come join us!! You might be exactly who we need!




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