By Yee Mei
TOKYO, April 23: Malaysia is projected to become an ageing nation by 2030, and artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies will play a critical role in empowering older people and supporting healthy ageing.
However, it is also vital to recognise the risks it brings, as digital transformation has imposed additional challenges on older people’s ability to keep pace with emerging technologies and access to them.
Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD) Malaysia chairman, Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi said this during his speech at the Parliamentarians Meeting of International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Tokyo, Japan, from April 22 to 24.
“The United Nations (UN) projected Malaysia to become an ageing nation by the year 2030 when 15 per cent of its population will comprise of those aged 60 and above. This potentially affects the country’s development, as a huge portion of the population goes into retirement and requires more care,” he said.
The Malaysian Works Minister said in this context, AI and digital technologies can enhance preventative care, improve diagnostics, personalise treatments, and empower individuals to manage their health proactively.
Malaysia has paid special attention to digitalisation, and as such, the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI) has developed the National Artificial Intelligence Roadmap (AI-Rmap) 2021–2025, which signifies the government’s commitment and significant step forward in the field of AI.
“Malaysia has also developed a mobile app aiming to transform the way older persons access and use transportation services.
“Utilising global positioning technology, the app helps users identify the most suitable transportation options, whether it be public transport, e-hailing services, or community transport,” he said.
He also elaborated that the University Malaya Medical Centre has initiated a geriatric medicine-led service, which began on Jan 9, 2024, and will be embedded as part of routine clinical service in May 2024, which delivers a combination of remote monitoring, virtual consultation, caregiver-assisted treatment, and expedited access to hospital-level care if required.
“On the same note, the Malaysian Institute of Microelectronic Systems (MIMOS) has developed need-based, consumer-centric solutions to support consistent and quality delivery of medical and healthcare services,” he said. — DayakDaily
