Launch of the Malaysia Advocacy Agenda of People Living with NCDs: the collective voice of people living with non- communicable diseases in Malaysia.

The Malaysia Advocacy Agenda of People Living with NCDs, built through a consultative process involving over 100 people living with a range of NCD conditions, was launched in February 2021.

The launch was officiated by YB Charles Santiago, Member of Parliament for Klang and chairperson of ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights and received media attention.

A series of virtual community conversations and an online consultation supported by NCD Malaysia, provided a platform for people living with NCDs to share their needs and challenges and identify shared priorities to drive action on NCDs in Malaysia. The consultation process was undertaken in four local languages including English, Bahasa, Mandarin and Tamil in order to gather a diverse range of perspectives.

In total, 108 people living with NCDs and representing at least 11 NCD conditions lent their voices to give life to the Malaysia Advocacy Agenda. An expert working group of people living with NCDs leaders nominated by their individual communities, support groups or organisations, was formed to crystallise the priorities and draft the Malaysia Advocacy Agenda.

“We commend the Government for making a great effort to prevent NCDs, and to treat people living with NCDs. However, what remains missing is meaningful involvement: we have not successfully included the input and opinions of people living with NCDs, even though they are the ones living with the diseases and are the ones most affected by the decisions made.”
– Malaysia Advocacy Agenda of People Living with NCDs

People living with NCDs in Malaysia have highlighted their key asks for various stakeholders including the Government, Ministry of Health, Parliamentarians, healthcare professionals, business community, civil society and individuals/groups of people living with NCDs in four key areas: human rights & social justice; prevention; treatment, care and support and meaningful involvement.

Efforts related to the Malaysia Advocacy Agenda have propelled NCD Malaysia’s engagement with key stakeholders including the Ministry of Health and parliamentarians to highlight the importance of a people-centred approach to Malaysia’s NCD response. As a result, NCD Malaysia has also been invited to join the CSO-Sustainable Development Goals Alliance for Malaysia and the All-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia on Sustainable Development Goals (APPGM-SDG) and provide civil society input for Malaysia's 2021 Voluntary National Review on Sustainable Development Goals. 

Download Malaysia Advocacy Agenda of People Living with NCDs