THE Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has called for urgent and drastic action to be taken to curb the rise in diabetes cases in the country, warning that Malaysia is now at a critical juncture with the prevalence of the disease increasing every year.
Malaysia is currently ranked 13th in the world and highest in Southeast Asia for diabetes prevalence, with 21 percent of the population or one in five adults living with the disease.
The National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2023 also showed that 15.6 percent of adults have diabetes, while more than half are overweight or obese.
MMA President, Datuk Dr Thirunavukarasu Rajoo said the situation was very worrying and needed to be addressed comprehensively, involving the government, the food industry, educational institutions and the community.
“Diabetes is no longer just a health issue. It is a national crisis. We need bold and concerted action,” he said in a statement in conjunction with World Diabetes Day.
He stressed that uncontrolled diabetes can lead to serious complications including kidney failure, heart disease, amputation, blindness and stroke.
He informed that all these complications require intensive treatment and incur high costs throughout life.
A previous report by the Ministry of Health and WHO found that diabetes contributed RM4.38 billion in direct healthcare costs in 2017.
MMA expects the costs to continue to increase if preventive efforts, early screening and lifestyle changes are not strengthened immediately.
“We cannot afford to let this situation continue. Prevention is much more cost-effective than treatment,” he said.
He also stressed that every Malaysian should undergo a health check-up at least once a year to enable early detection and intervention.
According to him, delayed diagnosis not only harms patients but also increases the burden on the healthcare system and the country’s economy.
MMA also put forward several recommendations to strengthen efforts to curb diabetes, including making annual health screenings a cultural norm starting at the age of 18, expanding public health education in schools, workplaces and the mass media, as well as ensuring that messages about healthy eating and physical activity are delivered consistently.
The association also urged the government to strengthen the healthy food environment through a phased reduction of 20 to 30 percent in added sugar content in processed foods and beverages over a period of three to five years, expanding the sugar tax, clearer nutrition labelling on front-of-pack and encouraging nutritious and affordable food choices.
“We must urgently reduce sugar in everyday foods and drinks. The food and drink industry needs to be part of the solution, not part of the problem,” he said.
MMA also called for an integrated approach involving ministries, local authorities, health professionals, schools and community groups.
The association also supports the formation of inter-ministerial task forces or strategic collaborations between public health agencies and non-governmental organisations to strengthen the coordination of existing initiatives.
“Health is everyone’s responsibility. Only through joint efforts can we curb the rise in diabetes and protect the well-being of future generations,” he added. – November 14, 2025