By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 1: Sarawak is studying a State privacy law to provide stronger protection for health data as artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies become more widely used in healthcare, says Deputy Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.
Speaking at the AI & Modern Healthcare Conference 2026, held at a hotel here today, he said health data should not be protected under the same framework as general data due to its highly sensitive nature.
“I have asked legal experts to draft a privacy law for Sarawak, and I want health data privacy to be separated from general data privacy because health data is very personal,” he said during the event, as reported by TVS.
Dr Sim, who is also the Minister for Public Health, Housing, and Local Government, said clear regulations must accompany the development of AI to ensure it is used ethically, safely, and responsibly.
“We need to think about the possibility that only a handful of companies may eventually control data and algorithms,” he added.
He also emphasised that stronger safeguards are becoming increasingly important as Sarawak now has extensive digital medical records, including 25 years of integrated cardiac imaging data.
This is supported by the fact that 167 health clinics across Sarawak have also been digitally connected to improve healthcare delivery, including to those in rural areas. — DayakDaily
