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FOREWORD

Behaviour is central to health. Our habits and how we engage with health greatly affect our well-
being and the efficiency of healthcare systems. It is important to understand the factors that shape
health behaviours and use this knowledge to create effective solutions that improve health and
support well-being.

Globally, we face numerous health challenges that arise from a combination of biological, psychological,
economic, environmental, and social factors. These challenges, such as the rising rates of non-
communicable diseases (NCDs) leading to long-term health conditions and health inequalities,
affect everyone. Behavioural and social sciences offer a promising path forward for health. Research
shows that creating environments that make healthy choices easy and accessible is more effective
than simply telling people what to do.

To make progress in health, we must apply behavioural and social sciences to create environments
and policies that support healthier behaviours. This involves addressing both individual choices and
broader social and environmental factors, making healthy choices easier while tackling root causes
of poor health, such as social inequalities and environmental barriers.

Malaysia has developed a strategy to apply behavioural insights in health, marking the beginning of
an ongoing journey. This strategy requires all stakeholders to work together to improve health
outcomes by applying behavioural and social science methods, and it uses a whole-of-nation
approach that involves sectors such as transport, urban planning, education, media, agriculture,
local governments, and community organisations to create an environment that supports healthy living.

At the heart of this approach is shared ownership—where the government,
communities, the private sector, and individuals take collective responsibility.

I hope these efforts will lead to lasting improvements in the health and
well-being of all Malaysians.

Dr Dz k Ahmad

Minister of Health Malaysia

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