PETALING JAYA: The health ministry does not plan to stop the use of the MySejahtera application and is working towards expanding its functions as a general public health app.
Deputy health minister Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali said there were plans to use MySejahtera as a medium to store user health information.
“The MySejahtera application has unlimited potential and there are plans to add features and modules to help users monitor and improve their personal health with ease and accuracy.
“We are confident that the MySejahtera application will remain relevant and spur the people in the direction of the Industrial Revolution 4.0,” he said, according to an Utusan Malaysia report.
Noor Azmi said the app was being developed to allow parents and guardians to store their children’s immunisation records, with digital certifications received for every vaccination.
“Adult users can carry out personal health screenings as well as store information such as their personal medical history,” he added.
The takeover of the management of the MySejahtera app by a private firm had given rise to concerns over breaches and misuse of personal user data as well as public surveillance.
The use of the application has also declined sharply with MySejahtera check-ins no longer mandatory when entering premises.
Universiti Putra Malaysia lecturer Nur Izura Udzir said data safety issues needed to be given serious attention if the government planned to use MySejahtera widely.
She said the move was important to ensure that privacy aspects of the app were also guaranteed, and that there was no discrimination when used by any parties.
“MySejahtera already stores the people’s personal information, including handphone numbers, addresses and health records,” she said.
“Its functions could be expanded for other purposes, including monitoring contagious diseases, vaccinations or health screenings.”
Source: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2022/07/05/no-plans-to-scrap-mysejahtera-says-deputy-minister/