Lokman Hakim S, MD, PhD Environmental Health Research Center Institute for Medical Research

1. 2nd WHO/UNEP/ADB High Level Meeting on Health & Environmentin ASEAN and East Asian Countries:Updates from the First HLM Lokman Hakim S, MD, PhD Environmental Health Research Center Institute for Medical Research Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Dec 2005

2. Content • Health & Environment – Institutional Mechanism • Environmental Health Forum • National Environmental Health Action Plan (NEHAP) • Information Sharing • Issues and Challenges

3. Health & Environment – Institutional Mechanism • The process/directive flow: CABINET Policy and Programme Development National Disaster Management Committees

4. Health & Environment – Institutional Mechanism (Policy & Programme Development) Policy and Programme Development Malaysia 5 years Developmental Plan (Ministries) New Policy & Prog. Cross Cutting Issues (TWGs) Existing Programmes: DWTC, POP, climate change Etc.

5. Health & Environment – Institutional Mechanism (Policy & Programme Development) • MOH invited into TWG for DOE Policy & Programme development for the 9th Malaysia Plan ( 2006-2010) • Sustainable environment • Biodiversity & natural resources • Consultative forum involving various stakeholders including NGOs • MOH represented by EHRC, Engineering, Disease Control & Food Divisions • Adopted into 9th MP • Oil Trap Mandatory beginning 2006 - MOLG • Environmental Health Indicators – MOH/MONRE • Ecology and zoonotic infections – WLD/MOH

6. Public consultation • Is generally recognised and practice as an important mechanism for interested individual to voice their opinions, views and concerns • New bills/regulations • e.g. Sin tax on tobacco, biodiversity bill • Environmental Impact Assessment Report • Health assessment as part of the EIA • Open for public review & comments • e.g. Marina Development in Tioman Island

7. Health & Environment – Institutional Mechanism (Existing Programmes) • National Committees Program • Drinking Water Technical Committee (DWTC) • Chaired by MOH (Engineering Division) • Members Include : DOE, DID, Local Council etc • National Committee on Zoonotic Diseases • Chaired by MOH (Disease Control Division) • Members include: MOA, MITI, MOLG, etc. • Aftermath Nipah outbreak in 1999, handle SARS, Avian Flu • Pesticide Boards • Chaired by Department of Agricultural • Members include: MOH, Research Institutes, Academics

8. Health & Environment – Institutional Mechanism (Existing Programmes) • International Convention and Agreement • National Coordinating Committee of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP) • Chaired by Department of Environment • Members Include :MOH, MITI, MHR, National poison center etc • National Committee on Biodiversity • Chaired by MONRE • Members: MOH, MOSTI, MOA, etc • Climate Change – National Communication • Chaired by MONRE • Members include: MOH, DOE, FRIM, National Energy Centre, Malaysia Meteorological Services

9. Health & Environment – Institutional Mechanism (Disaster Management) National Disaster Management Committees Management & Mitigation National Sub-Committees (Haze, Flood, Avian Flu, Tsunami etc)

10. Health & Environment – Institutional Mechanism (Disaster Management) • National Disaster & Relief Management Committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister, members include Internal Security, Defense, MOH, Transport, International Trade & Industry, Domestic & Consumer Affair, Education, Information, Local Government, etc. • National Haze Sub-Committee chaired by Ministry of Natural Resources & Environment. Members include MOH, Transport, International Trade & Industry, Domestic & Consumer Affair, Education, Info, Civil Aviation, DOE, MMS and City hall.

11. National Environmental Health Forum • 1996 : Healthy Cities • 1997 : Environmental Health Research: Needs & priorities • 1998 : Water Quality Management: Future Strategies Towards a National Plan • 2000 : NEHAP- A Malaysian Approach • 2001 : The Progress of NEHAP • 2002 : EH Research Current Issues: Research to Practice in EH • 2003 : Research & Development Strategies in Environmental Health for Sustainable Development • 2004: Environmental Health Indicators • 2005: Current Issues in Occupational Health

12. National Environmental Health Action Plan (NEHAP) • Introduced during the National Environmental Health Forum in 2000 • This led to the development of MOHEHAP • Technical Working Groups (TWG) • Promotional Health • Environmental and Health Information System • Institutional and Legislation Framework • Training Needs • Environmental Health Research • Healthy Setting

13. Information Sharing • A study on “Development of a National System for Dissemination of Information on Environmental Hazards” by EHRC • Assessed information use in EH at all levels of government • Various areas of change in information collection, management and dissemination in EH were identified • Further addressed in National Workshop on the Development of Environmental Health Indicator in 2004

14. Issues & Challenges • Personnel transfer & turn over in various agencies • Compartmentalization in various agencies • The need to further strengthen the integration and harmonization of environment and health

15. Check list of action: National Level