MEASAT and Mudah Healthtech scale digital healthcare momentum towards 1 million rural residents goal
- Satellite Evolution Group
- 34 minutes ago
- 3 min read
MEASAT, Malaysia’s Rural Broadband Service Provider and healthcare technology company Mudah Healthtech are accelerating the expansion of the Sihat Xpress telehealth service. The partnership 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 Kg Manikulau near Ranau and Kg Bonor near Sook, in partnership with the Sabah State Treasury Department (“JBNS”). Serving as an essential healthcare link for nearly 1,000 residents across both villages, their surrounding neighbours, and the local school, these kiosks empower villagers to 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 Ranau and 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 Assistant District Officer of Ranau, in Kg Manikulau and by Caroline Benjamin Jiungan, Sook District Officer in Kg Bonor.
“The Sabah State Treasury Department is pleased to collaborate with forward-looking private enterprises like MEASAT and Mudah Healthtech to implement solutions that improve the lives of Sabahans,” said Datuk Mary Angela Sipaun. “Sabah’s challenging geography often limits medical access in remote areas. We are committed to exploring innovative technology to bridge this infrastructure 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 out across a diverse range of locations in Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia, focusing on highimpact areas where geographical barriers hinder healthcare. Beyond rural villages, MEASAT and Mudah Healthtech are also expanding the Sihat Xpress ecosystem into workplaces and urban clinics. By digitalising these facilities, the programme enables a broader network of doctors to participate in remote consultations. To date, over 1,000 clinics have been digitalised since 2024 under the Madani MSME Digital Grant (“GDPM”), ensuring a robust network of medical professionals 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 detection and 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 nonemergency 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 service includes enhanced diagnostic capabilities such as AI-assisted health assessments to increase the speed and precision of consultations. The partners also aim to explore specialised screenings for mental health and early cancer detection, alongside advanced logistics such as drone-based medicine 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 residents will 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 SpaceTech solutions that go beyond basic connectivity. We want healthcare to come to the patient, rather than the 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 robust network of doctors, we are revolutionising healthcare management to be truly personalised and accessible for all. This synergy enables us to bridge healthcare disparities and transform how medical services are delivered to the heart of every community, ensuring that quality, precision care is never out of reach, regardless of location.”