Malaysia MOH to make 20% of hospitals baby-friendly by 2025

Only 22 of 175 private hospitals in Malaysia are recognised as baby-friendly.

Malaysian Ministry of Health (MOH) Deputy Minister Datuk Noor Azmi Ghazali, during the World Breastfeeding Week conference at Tunku Azizah Hospital on 17 September, said the MOH aims to increase the percentage of private hospitals recognised as baby-friendly hospitals to 20% by 2025.

Based on the latest data, Noor Azmi stated 22, or 12.6% of 175 private hospitals in Malaysia had been recognised as baby-friendly hospitals, while all government hospitals had succeeded earlier. "Having baby-friendly hospitals is important in improving the practice of exclusive breastfeeding, especially when many women are already aware of its benefits and importance," he added.

Noor Azmi said the MOH understood that private hospitals have constraints and did not set high targets, but the government is working to achieve those targets.

He also expressed his desire to upgrade the National Lactation Centre (NLC_ to the National Lactation Institute, in line with the development and needs of its services in promoting, supporting and protecting breastfeeding in Malaysia.

The NLC, the lead agency for breastfeeding programmes, has existed for over 13 years.