KUCHING, Sept 8 2026: Medical libraries are now growing as a strategic component in the health ecosystem by supporting evidence-based medicine, big data analysis and health policy formation, said Deputy Premier Dr Sim Kui Hian.
He said the role of medical libraries is no longer limited to being information storage centres, but also contributing to the development of a technology-based health system.
“Medical libraries are not just information storage centres or places where people can search for information, but rather play an important role in shaping evidence-based medicine and the formulation of our health policies,” he told reporter after opening the Asian Medical Library Seminar 2026 (AMLIS 2026) at the Borneo Cultural Museum today.
Dr Sim, who also the Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government, said the big data owned by medical libraries can be utilised through data analysis to strengthen research and public health policy planning.
He explained that digital transformation also opens up opportunities for Sarawak to make a technological leap in strengthening the state's health ecosystem as a whole.
According to him, the health ecosystem encompasses various sectors including medical tourism, new drug discovery, research and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) to help address the shortage of doctors.
He expressed his appreciation to the Malaysian Librarians Association (PPM) for their trust in choosing Sarawak as the host of the first-ever ASEAN-level medical library seminar to be held in Malaysia.
The seminar will focus on the transformation of medical libraries in the digital health ecosystem, strengthening the role of librarians in clinical and policy research, bridging the community health information gap and developing innovative and future-ready medical libraries
