Malaysia will host its first National Conference on Behavioural Sciences for Health in April 2026, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad announced today.
He said the event will bring together policymakers, health professionals, researchers and community leaders to share knowledge, showcase innovations and build stronger partnerships. “Malaysia will take the lead in hosting this conference for the first time. It will be a platform for sharing knowledge and driving meaningful collaboration,” he told reporters after launching the National Blueprint for Behavioural Insights in Health.
Dr Dzulkefly invited civil servants, private agencies, academics and the public to participate in the conference to harness behavioural science for better health outcomes. “This is in line with MADANI values such as sustainability, wellbeing and kindness,” he said.
Earlier, he noted that the new blueprint stemmed from Malaysia’s adoption of the World Health Organization’s resolution on behavioural sciences in 2023 and the establishment of the Behavioural Insights Unit in 2022. Finalised this year, the blueprint represents Malaysia’s commitment to putting the WHO resolution into action nationally.
Dr Dzulkefly highlighted Malaysia’s heavy burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), citing the 2023 National Health and Morbidity Survey which showed that over half of adults are overweight or obese, nearly one-third are physically inactive, most consume fewer fruits and vegetables than recommended, and one in five still use tobacco.
“These lifestyle factors are driving diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease, which now account for 72 per cent of premature deaths and cost the economy over RM64 billion a year,” he said.
According to the Health Minister, effective behavioural interventions could save 180,000 lives, add 400,000 healthy life years and generate RM30 billion in value over the next 15 years.
Anchored in the 13th Malaysia Plan, the Health White Paper and the WHO resolution, the blueprint outlines six national priorities to guide the country’s health transformation. It calls for behavioural insights to be integrated into all policies and programmes, along with training to build a capable workforce, research tailored to Malaysia’s context, and stronger monitoring and evaluation to track progress.
“It also proposes consultation and advisory mechanisms, as well as greater collaboration and advocacy through partnerships across sectors,” Dr Dzulkefly added.
