Page 22 - Buku_Utama_ANMS_21122021_compressed

NA TIONAL BL UEP RINT F OR BEHA V IOURAL INSIGHTS IN HEALTH
MAINS TREAMING BEHA V IOURAL SCIENCE F OR BET TER HEALTH

To address these challenges, the HWP aims to reform the nation’s health system to achieve
better health and well-being for the people. The HWP outlines a holistic proposal for systemic
and structural reforms of the Malaysian health system addressing the nation’s health
challenges while ensuring greater equitability, sustainability, and resilience of the health
system.

As part of this reform, embedding BI becomes integral to shifting the focus from merely
treating illnesses to adopting a new paradigm centred on maintaining overall well-being.
The emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention will not only be integrated into
the healthcare system but also implemented at all levels nationwide. Understanding and
influencing behaviours at all levels is crucial for addressing the challenges within Malaysia's
health system. Generally, human behaviours such as adherence to health guidelines and
engagement in healthy lifestyle behaviours, significantly influence health outcomes.

Patients’ behaviours, including care-seeking behaviours and adherence to treatment plans,
are critical for effective healthcare delivery. Similarly health workers’ behaviours such as
prescribing practices and adherence to best practices, significantly influence the quality and
efficiency of the health system.

In that context, BI certainly holds significant
potential to support not only the HWP, but
also the Agenda Nasional Malaysia Sihat
(ANMS), a national agenda for a healthy
Malaysia. This initiative goes beyond
conventional health promotion
programmes by adopting the ‘Health in All Policies’ approach. ANMS aims to encourage
various ministries to consider their contributions to the national health agenda. For example,
how can the town planning lead to better health outcomes? How do agricultural policies
improve the affordability and accessibility of healthy foods? How can local authorities
enhance environmental cleanliness for better health? These efforts collectively aim to
achieve holistic health improvements for the population.

There are four main thrusts under the ANMS; 1) Strengthening the promotion of healthy
living, 2) Strengthening health and wellness services, 3) Empowering self-management of
health, and 4) Strengthening environmental cleanliness.

The long-term Agenda is outlined to accomplish in 2030. As the ‘Health in All Policies’
approach is essential for better health outcomes, BI applications can support understanding
of how we talk about and act upon social determinants of health outcomes, facilitating
behaviourally-informed policies and practices.

Page | 11