Project Details


WSIS Prizes Contest 2025 Nominee

Sihat Xpress Smart Telehealth Kiosk


Description

Connectivity as the Enabler for Digital Healthcare:
Malaysia’s connectivity landscape has expanded significantly, with nationwide 5G deployment enhancing digital access. However, connectivity can go beyond—it serves as an enabler for innovative solutions that improve lives. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) recognises the paramount importance of reliable wireless solutions for digital health services.

Bridging Healthcare Gaps Through Digital Solutions:
Through a strategic public-private partnership between MEASAT, a leading communication satellite operator, and Mudah Healthtech, a solution provider, the Sihat Xpress Smart Telehealth Kiosk was introduced as a proof-of-concept (POC) telehealth initiative in Kg. Togop Darat, Ranau, Sabah. Situated in an underserved remote area where the nearest healthcare facility is over an hour away by walking, the telehealth kiosk enables real-time remote consultations and medical monitoring, reducing delays in treatment and improving health outcomes. By leveraging connectivity, healthcare services become more equitable and accessible—just one click away for underserved communities.

Digital Awareness and Community Empowerment:
By empowering local leaders to educate communities on the usage of the telehealth kiosks, it creates digital awareness, driving adoption and bridging the healthcare access gap. This ensures inclusive and sustainable healthcare transformation, aligning with Malaysia’s Health White Paper on equity in healthcare delivery.

Project website

https://www.bernama.com/en/news.php?id=2300865


Action lines related to this project
  • AL C1. The role of governments and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
  • AL C3. Access to information and knowledge
  • AL C5. Building confidence and security in use of ICTs
  • AL C7. E-health 2025
Sustainable development goals related to this project
  • Goal 3: Good health and well-being
  • Goal 10: Reduced inequalities
  • Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities
  • Goal 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions

Coverage
  • Malaysia

Status

Ongoing

Start date

March 2024

End date

Not set


Target beneficiary group(s)
  • Youth
  • Older persons
  • Women
  • Indigenous and nomadic peoples
  • People with disabilities
  • The poor
  • Remote and rural communities

Replicability

The Sihat Express Smart Telehealth initiative is designed to serve as a model for similar implementations in other underserved remote areas of Malaysia, particularly those facing geographical and infrastructural challenges. As a proof of concept (POC), it provides a blueprint for expanding telehealth services to underserved regions, ensuring that essential healthcare reaches those in need. By addressing the specific challenges of these areas, the initiative focuses on overcoming barriers related to accessibility and infrastructure. Additionally, the system is designed to be flexible and adaptable, making it suitable for various rural and underprivileged communities across the country.


Sustainability

This initiative ensures long-term sustainability through proactive community engagement and strategic public-private partnership. By fostering collaboration with local leaders, healthcare institutions, and governmental agencies, the project establishes a robust support framework that reinforces its enduring impact. Community representatives undergo comprehensive training to proficiently manage telehealth tools and kiosks, safeguarding their sustained functionality and accessibility. Furthermore, the financial model, underpinned by MEASAT through a structured monetary incentive mechanism with local community leaders, secures the project's longevity and scalability. This integrative approach not only fortifies grassroots participation but also guarantees the continued accessibility of essential telehealth services in underserved regions.


WSIS values promotion

The Sihat Express Smart Teleheath promotes WSIS values within communities by providing access to information and knowledge, through Capacity Building, embodies Inclusivity and Equality by addressing disparities in healthcare access between urban communities and underserved communities. 1. The project promotes Access to Information and Knowledge by using ICT tools to connect underserved communities with medical expertise through telehealth technologies. This ensures access to consultations, diagnoses, and treatment recommendations, bridging healthcare gaps caused by geographical challenges and empowering communities to make informed health decisions. 2. By focusing on Capacity Building, the project trains local community members and healthcare workers to use telehealth tools and digital platforms. This enhances digital healthcare literacy, builds confidence in managing telehealth services, and strengthens local healthcare systems for long-term sustainability. 3. The initiative fosters Inclusivity and equality by addressing healthcare disparities between urban and underserved communities. Through equitable distribution of telehealth kiosk among communities, it reduces health inequalities, aligns with WSIS Action Lines, and supports sustainable, community-driven healthcare development.


Entity name

Malaysian Communication Multimedia Commission (MCMC)

Entity country—type

Malaysia Government

Entity website

https://www.mcmc.gov.my/en/home

Partners

1.MCMC Sabah State Office +6088 355 000 2.Kementerian Ekonomi +603 8090 2094 3.Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia +6038 0008000 4.Kementerian Sains, Teknologi dan Inovasi Sabah +6088 288333 5.Sabah Creative Economy & Innovation Centre (SCENIC) +6088 498688 6.MEASAT +603 8213 2188 7.Mudah Healthtech +603 2276 6681 8.Khazanah Reserach Institute +603 2705 6100 9.KPJ Healthcare +6011 1161 1061 10.ProtectHealth +603 2276 6681 11.British High Commission +603-2170 2200 12.Bank Simpanan Nasional +603-8890 1181