Govt aiming to make MySejahtera a 'public health super app'

The government intends to make MySejahtera a digital public health super app, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Deputy Health Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni said it would be used as a form of big data with all health-related information as a guide in determining the country's health direction encompassing budget provisions, best health services and facilitating the people.

"As for the payment (of procurement cost of MySejahtera), the amount agreed by the government through the ceiling set by the finance ministry is RM160 million," he said to Dr Kelvin Yii (PH-Bandar Kuching), who asked about the way forward for the app, whether the government would extend the contract period of the app, and how much was paid for its procurement.

Other plans include using the data on the application plus information from the health ministry to identify those eligible for the Madani Medical Scheme initiative announced in Budget 2023.

To Yii’s original question on the health ministry's plans to optimise the use of MySejahtera, Lukanisman said it was committed to making the MySejahtera app a national public health management tool in line with the health service digitalisation plan.

He said the app would work on the surveillance of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, dengue, measles, and rabies, as well as hand, foot and mouth disease, in addition to vaccination records under the National Immunisation Programme; non-communicable disease screening for individuals aged 40 years and above; registration for organ donation; blood type records; and appointments for health screening.

On the details of the ministry's negotiations with MySJ Sdn Bhd, Lukanisman said they had reached several agreements, including on a contract for the procurement of the application management through direct negotiation for the period of April 1, 2021 to March 31 this year.

"The MySejahtera application ownership which covers intellectual property rights, source code for modules that have been developed, as well as data, brand and logo are owned by the government.

"The government has full rights over the use of the MySejahtera platform through a perpetual licence at no cost, even if the contract is not extended," he said.