This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly on August 12, 2024 - August 18, 2024

Efforts to mitigate carbon emissions are crucial in combating climate change, yet an equally important aspect that does not get highlighted as often is the strain it can put on the overall healthcare system of a country and its impact on public health.

According to the World Health Organization, climate change presents a fundamental threat to human health as extreme weather events have affected crop growth and exacerbated heat-related conditions and disease vectors.

According to reports, more than 1,300 died during this year’s Haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, amid extremely high temperatures. In May, temperatures in Delhi, India, hit 52.3°C — its highest ever recorded temperature — amid a severe heat wave, leading to over 40,000 cases of heat stroke and deaths.

Meanwhile, flash floods and heat waves have been prevalent in Malaysia across several regions in recent years.

“We’ve had flash floods in several regions in Peninsular and East Malaysia, heat warnings in various states, and even a drought declaration in Papar, Sabah, this year,” says Tan Sri Dr Jemilah Mahmood, executive director at the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health. The centre supports research into the health impacts of the climate crisis in the region.

“We have been seeing more frequent and severe floods over the past few decades; this trend is set to continue in the face of humanity’s collective reluctance to accept and address the root causes of global warming.”

The intensifying heatwaves have resulted in higher incidences of heat-related illnesses. At the same time, the prevalence of floods has also led to the spread of more water- and vector-borne diseases like malaria, dengue and the Zika virus.

“In our country, dengue cases skyrocketed in 2023, a huge increase from the previous year. Sadly, deaths from dengue complications are also increasing. It seems like this trend will continue with the climate crisis fuelling the spread of these diseases,” says Jemilah.

Apart from these direct health hazards posed by climate change, extreme weather events also indirectly affect public health by impacting agricultural productivity and crop yields, with the potential to seriously threaten food security.

“Rising temperatures and unpredictable rainfall in Malaysia could shrink rice fields and crop yields, causing floods and droughts that disrupt the food supply and lead to hunger. In already dry areas, the effects of the climate crisis make farming even harder, due to less water supply and increasing pest problems,” says Jemilah.

Recently, the island of Sardinia in Italy declared a state of emergency due to persistent drought, which has resulted in a severe water crisis.

Climate change health risks can strain the nation’s healthcare system, which is why industry stakeholders like IHH Healthcare Bhd (KL:IHH) are taking proactive measures to adapt.

“These changes strain Malaysia’s healthcare system, necessitating proactive measures to mitigate these impacts. Comprehensive public health strategies, including improved surveillance systems, public education and climate-resilient healthcare infrastructure, are essential to address these challenges effectively,” says IHH Healthcare Malaysia CEO Jean-François Naa.

The healthcare group has comprehensive training programmes for its staff, ensuring clinicians and personnel are well-prepared to handle associated health issues, including specific protocols and response strategies for heat strokes, asthma exacerbations and dengue fever outbreaks.

Its accident and emergency departments are also equipped with the necessary resources and expertise to provide prompt care in weather-related emergencies.

Complementing these are its initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint, which include transitioning its hospitals to renewable energy to cap its carbon emissions growth by 2025 and achieve net-zero by 2050.

Besides that, IHH is minimising the anaesthetic use of desflurane, which is said to be 2,500 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, eliminated the use of virgin single-use plastics across non-clinical areas, and implemented comprehensive recycling programmes and proper disposal methods.

Awareness of health-related climate change issues is growing, but there is still a need for broader and deeper understanding, Naa says. He points out that while urban populations may be more informed, rural communities often lack access to information and resources. This, he says, could result in uneven preparedness and response to climate-related health risks.

“Currently, many Malaysians may not fully appreciate the connection between climate change and public health. For instance, despite the growing awareness, the country continues to generate significant amounts of electricity from fossil fuels,” says Naa.

He also highlights the low recycling rate in Malaysia, resulting in the rest of the waste often ending up in landfills or the environment, contributing to pollution and health hazards.

Naa says if Malaysia does not change its habits, the country could face severe health impacts. “More efforts are needed to integrate climate change adaptation strategies with healthcare policies, ensuring a robust response to both immediate and long-term health risks.

“This includes strengthening healthcare infrastructure, enhancing emergency preparedness and fostering collaboration between governmental and non-governmental organisations to create a comprehensive public health response to climate change.”

Jemilah says Malaysia is taking some steps to address the risks of climate change, highlighting the inclusion of planetary health as an agenda in the 12th Malaysia Plan.

The Academy of Sciences Malaysia is also developing the National Planetary Health Action Plan, which she says could be the first of its kind in the world, adding that planetary health is also being considered for inclusion in Malaysia’s next education blueprint.

“We need strong policies that embed planetary health into everything we do, especially in healthcare,” says Jemilah.

This includes integrating climate resilience into urban planning, given that cities are increasingly vulnerable to the formation of heat islands and floods.

She says more green spaces and energy-efficient buildings can mitigate heat-related risks while also improving air quality.

“We need to revisit our disaster management planning and make it fit for purpose so that we incorporate climate risks into our development planning and emergency response strategies,” says Jemilah.

She also advocates less environmentally harmful forms of transport such as electric vehicles and public transport systems, and suggests implementing stricter vehicle emissions standards.

Noting that Malaysia will hold the Asean chair in 2025, Jemilah says the nation should take the opportunity to spearhead integrated planning alongside its member countries to tackle these climate challenges head-on.

“We must take seriously the economic impact of the climate crisis on our nation,” she says.

“Our leaders are talking the talk, but we need to walk the walk. That means getting serious about implementing these plans and rallying public support,” Jemilah adds, while emphasising the need for a collective effort from all stakeholders to face this crisis effectively.

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