Health Informatics Development in Malaysia

During the British Civil Administration days (1874-1941), health information and events were recorded and documented as a by-product of the services provided by the Medical Department. Data were generated at the services outlet, namely at hospitals, static (outdoor) dispensaries, traveling dispensaries maternal and child welfare centers, municipal clinics, leper settlements and mental institutions. Some form of procedure exited for recording into registers and collection of medical and health data on some predetermined formats according to program activity. Sanitary inspectors and public health nurses in the course of their work carried out of the collection of data for the public health activities. While in the hospitals, static (outdoor) dispensaries and institutions for special diseases this was done by hospital assistants and nurses. The data collection was coordinated by Medical Branch of the Medical Departments in each State. The annual State Health Situation Assessment Report was given to the Medical Department Headquarters (one for Straits Settlement States and the other for the Federated Malay States) to prepare an annual report on the health situation of the country as a whole.