He said the ministry would screen about 1.5 million people who had never undergone health screening, including tests for colorectal cancer and breast cancer at public and private clinics.

“We have now to look at the huge backlog of medical and surgical procedures that we have delayed over the last two years.

“Our health screening numbers over the last two years just simply dropped,” he said while speaking at the world health assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.

According to the national health and morbidity survey, 20% of adults, or 3.9 million people aged 18 and above, suffer from diabetes; 30% (6.4 million people) have high blood pressure; and 40% (eight million people) suffer from high cholesterol.

Khairy said the ministry is considering expanding the use of the MySejahtera app for non-communicable diseases and for booking health screening appointments.

He added that behavioural science is now the first line of defence in Malaysia’s healthcare system by getting the people to change the way they live.