9th APCPH Scientific Programme

07:30 – 08:00 HRS

REGISTRATION

08:00 – 11:00 HRS

SPARK Sessions (Parallel)

SPARK Session 1 | Junior Ballroom | Track: People & Equity

Moderator : Prof. Dr. Victor Hoe Chee Wai bin Abdullah

Public Health Medicine Competency Framework: Trained but not competent? Where do we go from here?

• Dr. Ahmad Faudzi bin Yusoff — College of Public Health Medicine (CPHM)
• Dr. Ismuni bin Bohari — Ministry of Health, Malaysia
• Prof. Dr. Sanjay Rampal A/L Lekhraj Rampal — MMC Education Committee, Universiti Malaya (UM)

SPARK Session 2 | Grand Ballroom 1 | Track: People & Technology

From Evidence to Action: Implementation Science for Public Health Impact

• Dr. Rumana Akhter Saifi — Universiti Malaya (UM)
• Prof. Frederick Lewis Altice — Yale University School of Medicine

SPARK Session 3 | Grand Ballroom 2 | Track: People & Technology

Machine Learning in Public Health

• Dr. Jason Vivek Jayaraj — Ministry of Health Malaysia

SPARK Session 4 | Grand Ballroom 3 | Track: People & Equity

Beyond the Numbers: Qualitative Approaches in Public Health Research

• Dr. Anisah binti Baharom — Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)

SPARK Session 5 | Meeting Room | Track: Climate & Environment

Human Health Risk Assessment

• Dr. Afiqah Syamimi binti Masrani — Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM)

11:00 – 11:30 HRS

Refreshment and Networking

Poster Session

11:30 – 13:00 HRS

Keynote Address and Opening Ceremony

Main Grand Ballroom & Junior Ballroom

“Closing the Public Health Gap Through Technology, Partnership & People”

Guest of Honour: YB Dato’ Hajjah Hanifah Hajar Taib — Deputy Minister of Health, Malaysia

13:00 – 14:00 HRS

Lunch Break and Networking

Poster Session

14:00 – 15:00 HRS

Plenary 1 | Main Grand Ballroom & Junior Ballroom | Track: People

Community Power and Public Health: The Person at the Centre

Speaker: To be confirmed

15:00 – 15:30 HRS

Special Session | Main Grand Ballroom & Junior Ballroom |

Speaker: Mr.Bahtiar Talhah — Chief Executive Officer, Humanize Malaysia

15:30 – 16:00 HRS

Refreshment and Networking

Poster Session

16:00 – 17:30 HRS

Parallel Symposia

Symposium 1 | Grand Ballroom 1 | Track: Equity
Digital Inclusion and Health Equity

• Prof. Dr. Shamsul Azhar Shah (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)) — “Designing Inclusive Digital Health Platforms: Ensuring Equity in Health”
• Dr. Jessica Watterson (Monash University Malaysia/Australia) — “Using Co-Design to Promote Digital Inclusion and Health Equity”
• Dr. Wong Min Fui @ Esther (Institute for Health Systems Research (IHSR) Malaysia) — “Digital Inclusion for Marginalised Populations: Technology-Enabled Reform in Prison Healthcare”

Symposium 2 | Grand Ballroom 3 | Track: Technology

AI and Disease Forecasting in the Global South

• Speaker : To be confirmed — “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Real-Time Disease Surveillance”
• Dr. Sarbhan Singh (Institute for Medical Research (IMR)) — “From Prediction to Preparedness: AI Applications in Public Health Decision-Making”
• Prof. Dr. Jamalludin bin Ab Rahman (International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM)) — “Ethical and Policy Challenges in AI-Driven Disease Forecasting”

Symposium 3 | Junior Ballroom | Track: People

Chairperson: Mr Bahtiar Talhah, CEO, Humanize Malaysia

Humanising Public Health: Advancing Harm Reduction for Health and Hope

• Dr. Mark Tyndall (University of British Columbia, Canada) — “Bridging Evidence and Policy: The Roadblocks to Tobacco Harm Reduction”
• Dr. Anita Suleiman (HARAN, Malaysia) — “Harm Reduction in HIV: Lessons from Asia for a More Inclusive Public Health”
• Prof. Dato’ Dr. Adeeba Kamarulzaman (Monash University Malaysia) — “The Human and Financial Cost of the War on Drugs”
• Alliance Representative (To be confirmed) — “Financing Harm Reduction: Insurance and Social Protection for Vulnerable Populations”

Symposium 4 | Meeting Room | Track: Climate & Environment

Planetary Health, Climate Resilience, and Public Health

• Dr. Bala Murali A/L Sundram (Universiti Malaya (UM)) — “Planetary Health Thinking for Future-Ready Public Health Systems”
• Dr. Thahiratul Asma’ binti Zakaria (Ministry of Health Malaysia) — “Climate Change and Environmental Health Risks: Malaysia’s Experiences”
• Dr. Zulhizam bin Hj. Abdullah (Ministry of Health Malaysia) — “Strengthening Public Health Workforce and Systems for Climate-Resilient Health”

07:30 – 08:00 HRS

REGISTRATION

08:00 – 09:30 HRS

Parallel Symposia

Symposium 5 | Grand Ballroom 1 | Track: Equity

Building Trust in Data Sharing and AI Use in Public Health

• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dhesi Baha Raja Selva Raja (Monash University Malaysia) — “Building Trust in EMR Across Public and Private Healthcare Providers”
• Dr. Wan Kim Sui (Institute of Public Health (IKU) Malaysia) — “Integrating Health Data for Precision Public Health”
• Prof. Dr. Sanjay Rampal A/L Lekhraj Rampal (Universiti Malaya (UM)) — “The Future of Public Health in AI: Understanding the Landscape, Bridging the Gaps”

Symposium 6 | Grand Ballroom 3 | Track: Technology

Building Integrated Health Ecosystems: Translating Public–Private–Academic Partnerships into Scalable Population Health Solutions

• Speaker: To be confirmed — “Building Integrated Health Ecosystems”
• Dr. Hjh. Yatela Zainal Abidin (Yayasan Sime Darby) — “Public-Private Partnerships in Health Sector Innovation”
• Prof. Jonty Heaversedge (NHG Health, Singapore) — “Designing for Impact: Implementing AI for Sustainable Health System and Population Health Change”

Symposium 7 | Junior Ballroom | Track: People

Cross-Border and Global Health Security

• Dr. Thilaka A/P Chinnayah (WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific) — “Fortifying Borders Against Epidemics: Lessons from ASEAN’s Cross-Border Health Security”
• Dr. Haidar Rizal bin Toha (Pejabat Kesihatan Daerah Johor Bahru (PKDJB)) — “Beyond Kim-Kim: Rethinking Environmental Toxicology and Emergency Preparedness in Industrial Corridors”
• Dr. Hazlin bt Abu Bakar (Pejabat Kesihatan Daerah Kota Tinggi (PKDKT)) — “Health in the Fast Lane: Public Health Collaboration in Pengerang’s Industrial Rise”

Symposium 8 | Meeting Room | Track: Climate & Environment

Resilient Health Systems Planning for the Future

• Dr. Enna binti Mohd Hanafiah (Ministry of Health Malaysia) — “Closing the Gap: Using Strategic Facility Planning to Drive Service Integration and System Reform”
• Dr. Rima Marhayu binti Abdul Rashid (Ministry of Health Malaysia) — “Integrated Service Delivery: The Pathway to a Stronger, Resilient Health System”
• Dr. Ahmad Fairudz bin Jamaluddin (MET Malaysia) — “Enhancing Health System Resilience Through Climate-Driven Early Warning Systems”

09:30 – 10:00 HRS

Refreshment and Networking

Poster Session

10:00 – 11:00 HRS

Forum 1 | Main Grand Ballroom & Junior Ballroom | Track: Technology & People

Moderator : Prof. Dr. Victor Hoe Chee Wai bin Abdullah, Universiti Malaya (UM)

Digital Public Health Transformation: Ensuring No One is Left Behind

• Dr. Mahesh Appannan — Director, Digital Health Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia
• Brigadier General Prof. Dr. Mohd Arshil Moideen (Rtd) — Head, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia
• Madam Laili binti Ismail — President, PERTIWI Soup Kitchen

11:00 – 12:00 HRS

Plenary 2 | Main Grand Ballroom & Junior Ballroom | Track: People & Technology

Funding the Future of Public Health: Public–Private–People Partnership

Dr. Ismuni bin Bohari — Deputy Director-General of Health (Public Health), Ministry of Health Malaysia

12:00 – 13:00 HRS

13:00 – 14:00 HRS

Lunch Talk — Camber Sdn Bhd

Lunch Break and Networking

14:00 – 15:30 HRS

Forum 2 | Main Grand Ballroom & Junior Ballroom | Track: Climate & Environment

Moderator : Dr. Jeyanthini Sathasivam, Jabatan Kesihatan Negeri Johor (JKNJ)
Healthy Planet, Healthy People: Integrating Climate Action into Public Health

• Prof. Dr. Mazrura binti Sahani — Centre for Toxicology and Health Risk Research (CORE), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
• Dr. Rohaida binti Ismail — Environmental Health Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research (IMR), Malaysia
• Madam Hellan Empaing Chi Tungkat — President, Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (JOAS)

15:30 – 16:00 HRS

Refreshment and Networking

Poster Session

16:00 – 17:30 HRS

Parallel Free Paper Oral Presentations
Sessions 1–5 running concurrently across five breakout rooms

07:30 – 08:00 HRS

REGISTRATION

08:00 – 09:30 HRS

Parallel Free Paper Oral Presentations
Sessions 6–10 running concurrently across five breakout rooms

09:30 – 10:00 HRS

Refreshment and Networking

Poster Session

10:00 – 11:30 HRS

Parallel Symposia

Symposium 9 | Grand Ballroom 1 | Track: Equity

Strengthening Health Systems

• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aidalina Mahmud (Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)) — “Redesigning Primary Health Care to Bridge Malaysia’s Economic Divide”
• Dr Muhammed bin Abdul Khalid (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)) — “Inclusive Health Financing: Advancing Equity and Financial Protection for All”
• Prof. Emeritus Datuk Dr. Awang Bulgiba (Universiti Malaya (UM)) — “Health Systems Strengthening, Data and Health Equity”

Symposium 10 | Grand Ballroom 3 | Track: Technology

Innovations in Public Health Surveillance and Crisis Response

• Dr. Vivek Jason Jayaraj (Digital Health Division, MOH Malaysia) — “Digital Transformation in Disease Surveillance”
• Mr. Aymen Abdullah (Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Malaysia) — “Epidemic Preparedness in Humanitarian Services”
• Dr. Thilaka A/P Chinnayah (WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific) — “Predictive Technologies and AI in Surveillance”

Symposium 11 | Junior Ballroom | Track: People

Youth and Gender Health in a Digital World: Creating Psychologically Safe Work Environments

• Miss Pam Guneratnam (HumanKind Malaysia) — “Digital Inclusion and Psychological Safety for Young Women in the Workforce”
• Prof. Dr. Sadia Saleem (Monash University Malaysia, Hybrid) — “Youth Mental Health and Digital Work Culture: From Burnout to Belonging”
• Miss Nadira Ilana (Filmmaker & Youth Rights Activist, Sabah) — “Leveraging Digital Platforms for Youth Engagement in Mental Health Services”

Symposium 12 | Meeting Room | Track: Climate & Environment

Strengthening Climate Resilience: From Urban Planning to Health Systems and National Policy

• Madam Kamisah Mohd Ghazali (Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA)) — “Building Resilient Cities: Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction into Johor’s Urban Planning”
• Prof. Dr. Rozita Hod (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)) — “Building Climate-Resilient Health Systems: Adaptation Strategies for a Warming World”
• Madam Suhana Shamsudin (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES)) — “National Adaptation Plan for Climate Change in Malaysia”

11:30 – 12:00 HRS

12:00 – 13:00 HRS

Networking Session

Lunch Talk — Novo Nordisk

13:00 – 14:00 HRS

Lunch Break and Networking

Poster Session

14:00 – 15:00 HRS

Plenary 3 | Main Grand Ballroom & Junior Ballroom | Track: Technology & Equity

Smart Health Technologies and the Challenge of Equity

Professor Kent Buse — Monash University

15:00 – 16:00 HRS

Forum 3 | Main Grand Ballroom & Junior Ballroom | Track: People & Equity

Moderator : Prof. Emeritus Datuk Dr. Awang Bulgiba, Universiti Malaya (UM)

Social Determinants and Cross-Sector Collaboration in Practice

• Dr. Hj. Mohtar bin Pungut @ Hj. Ahmad — Director, Jabatan Kesihatan Negeri Johor (JKNJ)
• Dato’ Dr. Ahmad Faizal Mohd Perdaus — President, MERCY Malaysia
• Datuk Hartini Zainudin — Founder, Yayasan Chow Kit, Malaysia

16:00 – 17:30 HRS

Closing and Prize-Giving Ceremony
Main Grand Ballroom & Junior Ballroom