On 29 April 2025, the APAC CVD Alliance held a policy dialogue in Kuala Lumpur focused on strengthening cardiovascular care in Malaysia. The meeting brought together key stakeholders—including representatives from the Ministry of Health Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi MARA Faculty of Medicine, the National Kidney Foundation, and patient advocacy groups such as Pertubuhan Teras Jantung and Vital Signs Asia—to discuss and propose locally relevant solutions. The dialogue also emphasized the importance of universal health coverage and patient-centered care.

Dr Aizuniza Abdullah, Public Health Physicians, Disease Control Division of the Ministry of Health Malaysia presented a clear and compelling overview of the current landscape of cardiovascular care in Malaysia, painting a stark picture of the country’s growing health challenges. She highlighted that 2.3 million Malaysian adults are living with three major non-communicable disease (NCD) risk factors, while 0.5% of the population are burdened by four. The economic cost of managing these conditions is staggering, amounting to RM 64.2 billion.

To address this, Dr Aizuniza emphasized the need for a focused and strategic approach, highlighting six key areas that must guide the way forward:

• Strengthening primary prevention to reduce the onset of disease.

• Enhancing secondary prevention to better manage those already affected.

• Empowering communities to take charge of their own health.

• Leveraging technology and digitalisation for smarter, more accessible care.

• Promoting multisectoral collaboration across various industries and sectors.

• Securing sustainable financing to support long-term healthcare solutions.

The discussion underscored several systemic challenges in Malaysia’s approach to cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention and treatment. Participants emphasized the need to improve health literacy, strengthen community engagement, and implement robust monitoring systems. A major concern was the underestimation of CVD risk in Asian populations, calling for local validation of Western risk assessment tools and greater consideration of environmental and infectious factors such as air quality and disease burden.

The shortage of cardiologists, especially in the public sector, was highlighted as a critical gap. To address this, the conversation pointed to the need for integrated care models and sustainable financing solutions. Proposals included leveraging community health workers, expanding telemedicine, and introducing innovative financing mechanisms. Primordial prevention, multisectoral collaboration, and incentives to encourage healthier behaviors were identified as essential strategies.

Better data sharing and enforcement of health policies were also seen as vital. Community health workers, civil society organizations (CSOs), and patient advocacy groups were recognized as key connectors, helping bridge the gap between healthcare systems and the public.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our Malaysian partners for their valuable insights and participation.