PADANG BESAR, Sept 26 — The pilot Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system implemented under the National Digital Health Ecosystem and Connectivity Driver (Persada) initiative at health facilities in Perlis has had a positive impact on patient waiting times, said Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil.

The communications minister said the project, which has been implemented in the state for the past four months, showed that more than 86 per cent of patients were able to see a doctor in less than 60 minutes, while 62.8 per cent did so in less than 30 minutes.

“It has benefited more than 200,000 patients in Perlis. I have also received some feedback on the system and made several suggestions to ensure that it is safe to use and easy for Health Ministry staff to operate,” he told reporters after inspecting the Persada project at the Padang Besar Health Clinic here today.

Also present were Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Abdul Halim Hamzah and Perlis Health director Dr Ghazali Chik.

Fahmi said doctors no longer had to wait for patients’ medical records to be retrieved manually, as all relevant information could be accessed through the system.

“The doctors said the system made their work easier and reduced the time spent waiting for patients’ medical records to reach them, as they are stored in the cloud, which is more secure,” he said.

Fahmi said the ministry plans to expand the system to other states but would first assess several factors, including internet connectivity, to ensure that it could be used efficiently and effectively.

“I believe it can benefit other states, but we will look at several aspects because some states may face certain challenges. I was informed that the system requires an internet connection of at least 100 Mbps,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), in a statement, said that Persada would facilitate smoother sharing of health information and lay the foundation for the implementation of the ‘One Individual, One Health Record’ aspiration.

“Patients’ health records can help ensure continuity of care when they seek treatment at different facilities or locations, providing a smoother and more organised experience while helping to reduce waiting times,” it said.

According to the statement, cross-ministerial cooperation between the Communications Ministry, through MCMC, and the Health Ministry (MOH) would help strengthen service delivery, as well as digital connectivity and the integration of technology.

Fahmi added that MCMC had integrated telehealth services through 17 National Information Dissemination Centres (NADI) in Perlis, enabling local residents to access certain services, including health screenings, at the centres without having to visit a health clinic.

“We will strengthen cooperation between NADI centres under MCMC and health clinics as well as rural clinics, not only in Perlis but nationwide, to make it easier for patients to access treatment,” he said. — Bernama