Page 15 - NIH Bulletin Vol. 21: January - June 2023 NIH Way Forward

Vol : 21 • January - Jun 2023 •

NATIONAL HEALTH AND MORBIDITY SURVEY (NHMS):
NATIONAL HEALTH AND MORBIDITY SURVEY (NHMS):
NATIONAL HEALTH AND MORBIDITY SURVEY (NHMS):
NATIONAL HEALTH AND MORBIDITY SURVEY (NHMS):
THE RENOWNED EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SURVEY IN MALAYSIA
THE RENOWNED EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SURVEY IN MALAYSIA
THE RENOWNED EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SURVEY IN MALAYSIA
THE RENOWNED EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SURVEY IN MALAYSIA
• • • • • •
Dr Suhaila Abdul Ghaffar, Dr. S Maria Awaluddin, Dr. Mohd Shaiful Azlan Kassim and
Dr. Nur Hamizah Nasaruddin

he National Health and Morbidity Survey from health divisions, state health departments,
T(NHMS) is a crucial tool for monitoring the health research institutes, and representatives from
of the Malaysian population. It primarily focuses on universities. The most recent steering committee
the scope of non-communicable diseases, led by meeting took place on 28th March 2023, during
the Institute for Public Health, and the scope of which discussions were held regarding the surveys
healthcare demand, led by the Institute for Health conducted in 2022 on Maternal and Child Health,
System Research. The survey has been conducted Adolescent Health, and Orang Asli Health. The
in cycles since 1986. Originally a 10-year cycle, it committee also deliberated on the scope of the
transitioned to a four-year cycle in 2011, allowing for 2023 survey, which focuses on non-communicable
trend tracking and data comparison from previous diseases and healthcare demand. Furthermore,
NHMS cycles. The trend can be monitored from it was conveyed that the Global Adults Tobacco
1986, 1996, 2006, 2011, 2015, 2019, and the ongoing Survey (GATS) would also be conducted in 2023.
2023 cycle. The survey also encompasses other Subsequent to this meeting, a launch event for
significant health concerns such as maternal and the NHMS Coffee Table Book was held. Dr. Noor
child health, adolescent health, elderly health, Ani Ahmad, the Director of the Institute for Public
nutrition, and communicable diseases in between Health presented the NHMS Coffee Table Book
the primary focus of non-communicable diseases to Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah,
and healthcare demand cycle. The NHMS is the former Director General of Health Malaysia
counselled by a steering committee chaired by the accompanied by Datuk Dr. Muhammad Radzi Abu
Director General of Health Malaysia. This committee Hassan, the former Deputy Director General of
comprises various stakeholders, including directors Health (Research & Technical Support) and

>> Dr. Noor Ani Ahmad, the Director of the Institute for Public Health presented the NHMS Coffee Table Book to Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr.
Noor Hisham Abdullah, the former Director General of Health Malaysia accompanied by Datuk Dr. Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan,
the former Deputy Director General of Health (Research & Technical Support) and the current Director General of Health Malaysia.

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