MEASAT and Mudah Healthtech Scale Digital Healthcare Momentum Towards 1 Million Rural Residents Goal

MEASAT Global Berhad are accelerating the expansion of the Sihat Xpress telehealth service. Thepartnership aims to serve up to 1 million Malaysians in remote areas, supported by the CONNECTme NOW satellite broadband service and MEASAT’s extensive distribution network.

In the latest expansion, new Sihat Xpress telehealth kiosks were launched in the villages of KgManikulau near Ranau and Kg Bonor near Sook, in partnership with the Sabah State TreasuryDepartment (“JBNS”). Serving as an essential healthcare link for nearly 1,000 residents acrossboth villages, their surrounding neighbours, and the local school, these kiosks empower villagersto manage their daily health through guided self-care tools and on-demand doctor consultations.This provides a vital lifeline for communities separated from the Timbua Health Clinic in Ranauand the Karamatoi Health Clinic in Sook, respectively by up to two hours of travel.

The launch featured a visit by Datuk Mary Angela Sipaun, Sabah State Treasurer, to both communities, where she met with village heads and observed on-site demonstrations of the telehealth technology, respectively accompanied by Frey Alexander Francis, Senior AssistantDistrict Officer of Ranau, in Kg Manikulau and by Caroline Benjamin Jiungan, Sook District Officerin Kg Bonor.

“The Sabah State Treasury Department is pleased to collaborate with forward-looking privateenterprises like MEASAT and Mudah Healthtech to implement solutions that improve the lives ofSabahans,” said Datuk Mary Angela Sipaun. “Sabah’s challenging geography often limits medicalaccess in remote areas. We are committed to exploring innovative technology to bridge thisinfrastructure gap for our underserved populations."

A Growing Digital Ecosystem

Building on the success of the initial deployment, the Sihat Xpress service is now being rolled outacross a diverse range of locations in Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia, focusing on high-impact areas where geographical barriers hinder healthcare. Beyond rural villages, MEASAT andMudah Healthtech are also expanding the Sihat Xpress ecosystem into workplaces and urbanclinics. By digitalising these facilities, the programme enables a broader network of doctors toparticipate in remote consultations. To date, over 1,000 clinics have been digitalised since 2024under the Madani MSME Digital Grant (“GDPM”), ensuring a robust network of medicalprofessionals is ready to provide care as the kiosk network grows.

Empowering Communities with "Healthcare at Your Doorstep"

The Sihat Xpress kiosks allow villagers to conduct self-screening that can enable early detectionand intervention in non-communicable diseases, such as checking oxygen levels, blood pressure, blood glucose, body temperature and body mass index, besides consulting doctors online for non-emergency medical issues. Early outcomes have been highly promising, with some villages achieving a resident adoption rate of over 60%. Looking ahead, the roadmap for the serviceincludes enhanced diagnostic capabilities such as AI-assisted health assessments to increase thespeed and precision of consultations. The partners also aim to explore specialised screenings for health and early cancer detection, alongside advanced logistics such as drone-basedmedicine delivery to reach the most isolated communities.

This evolution of digital healthcare aligns closely with the goals of the 13th Malaysia Plan (“13MP”).By prioritising equitable healthcare access through digitalisation and AI-powered health analytics,the initiative supports national efforts to reduce overcrowding at physical facilities and enhance interoperability between healthcare providers. This systemic approach ensures that rural residentswill not be left behind by the digital transformation of the medical sector.

Yau Chyong Lim, Chief Operating Officer, MEASAT, added, “Our collaboration with Mudah Healthtech for the Sihat Xpress initiative is rooted in our commitment to offer holistic SpaceTechsolutions that go beyond basic connectivity. We want healthcare to come to the patient, rather thanthe patient travelling long distances for care. By supporting broadband-enabled digital healthcare,we are leveraging satellite technology to truly dissolve geographical barriers.”

Dato’ Dr Kantha Rasalingam, Founder & Managing Director, Mudah Healthtech, further commented, “By integrating our smart kiosks with MEASAT’s reliable connectivity and a robustnetwork of doctors, we are revolutionising healthcare management to be truly personalised andaccessible for all. This synergy enables us to bridge healthcare disparities and transform howmedical services are delivered to the heart of every community, ensuring that quality, precisioncare is never out of reach, regardless of location.”